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Local chiral symmetry breaking in triatic liquid crystals

Author

Listed:
  • Kun Zhao

    (University of California-Los Angeles
    University of California-Los Angeles)

  • Robijn Bruinsma

    (University of California-Los Angeles
    California NanoSystems Institute, University of California-Los Angeles)

  • Thomas G. Mason

    (University of California-Los Angeles
    University of California-Los Angeles
    California NanoSystems Institute, University of California-Los Angeles)

Abstract

Understanding the behaviour of thermally excited many-particle systems, composed of a single particle type having a well-defined shape and size, is important in condensed matter, notably protein crystallization. Here we observe and explain the origin of local chiral symmetry breaking in a surprisingly simple system of hard Brownian particles: achiral regular triangles confined to two dimensions. Using enhanced optical video particle-tracking microscopy, we show that microscale lithographic triangular platelets form two different triatic liquid crystal phases. Above a particle area fraction φA≈0.55, the simple triatic phase is spatially disordered, yet has molecular orientational characteristics that distinguish it from a hexatic liquid crystal. At higher φA≥0.61, we find a second triatic phase exhibiting local chiral symmetry breaking; rotational entropy favours laterally offsetting the positions of nearest-neighbouring triangles. By contributing to spatial disordering, local chiral symmetry breaking can limit the range of shapes that can be entropically crystallized.

Suggested Citation

  • Kun Zhao & Robijn Bruinsma & Thomas G. Mason, 2012. "Local chiral symmetry breaking in triatic liquid crystals," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 3(1), pages 1-8, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:3:y:2012:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms1803
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1803
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    Cited by:

    1. David Doan & John Kulikowski & X. Wendy Gu, 2024. "Direct observation of phase transitions in truncated tetrahedral microparticles under quasi-2D confinement," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.

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