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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 73 records · Page 4
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Nematic Colloidal Micro‐Robots as Physically Intelligent Systems

Abstract Physically intelligent micro‐robotic systems exploit information embedded in micro‐robots, their colloidal cargo, and their milieu to interact, assemble, and form functional structures. Nonlinear anisotropic fluids such as nematic liquid crystals (NLCs) provide untapped opportunities to embed interactions via their topological defects, complex elastic responses, and ability to dramatically restructure in dynamic settings. Here a four‐armed ferromagnetic micro‐robot is designed and fabricated to embed and dynamically reconfigure information in the nematic director field, generating a suite of physical interactions for cargo manipulation. The micro‐robot shape and surface chemistry are designed to generate a nemato‐elastic energy landscape in the domain that defines multiple modes of emergent, bottom‐up interactions with passive colloids. Micro‐robot rotation expands the ability to sculpt interactions; the energy landscape around a rotating micro‐robot is dynamically reconfigured by complex far‐from‐equilibrium dynamics of the micro‐robot's companion topological defect. These defect dynamics allow transient information to be programmed into the domain and exploited. Robust micro‐robotic manipulation strategies are demonstrated that exploit these diverse modes of nemato‐elastic interaction to achieve cargo docking, transport, release, and assembly of complex reconfigurable structures at multi‐stable sites. Such structures are of great interest to future developments of LC‐based advanced optical device and micro‐manufacturing in anisotropic environments.

Yao, Tianyi↗
NASA NTRS1972

Resonance spectra of a paramagnetic probe dissolved in a viscous medium

A model is presented for calculating the paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrum of vanadyl acetylacetonate (VAAC) dissolved in either a liquid crystal or isotropic solvent. It employs density matrix formulation in the rotating reference frame. The molecules occupy several discrete angles with respect to the magnetic field and can relax to neighboring positions in a characteristic time tau(theta). The form of tau(theta) is found from a diffusion approach, and the magnitude of tau(theta) is a measure of how freely the VAAC probe tumbles in the solvent. Spectra are predicted for values of tau between 10 to the minus 11th power sec and 10 to the minus 7th power sec. The EPR spectrum, in the isotropic case, is obtained be summing the contributions from the allowed angles weighted by the polar volume element, sin theta. When applying the model to the nematic liquid crystal case it is also necessary to multiply by the Saupe distribution function. For this case tau(theta) is obtained from the diffusion approach in which two diffusion constants are employed to reflect the difference in the parallel and perpendicular components of the viscosity.

Kaplan, J. I.↗
NASA NTRS2002

A Deuterium NMR Study of Bent-Core Liquid Crystals: Synthesis and Characterization of Deuterium-Labeled Oxadiazole-Containing Liquid Crystals - 1

We have synthesized two deuterated boomerang-shaped liquid crystals based on 2,5-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (ODBP). Deuterium was introduced in the rigid 2,5-diphenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole core and in the aromatic ring of the terminal 4-dodecyloxyphenyl moiety using standard acid catalyzed deuterium exchange conditions. Both compounds, ([4,4'(1,3,4-oxadiazole-2,5-diyl-d4)] di-4-dodecyloxybenzoate: ODBP-d4-Ph-O-C12) and ([4,4'(1,3,4-oxadiazole-2,5-diyl)] di-4-dodecyloxy-benzoate-d4; ODBP-Ph-d4-O-C12) were investigated by nuclear magnetic resonance, optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. The optical textures and thermal behavior of both compounds were found to be identical to the non-deuterated analog [4,4(1,3,4-oxadiazole-2,5-diyl)] di-4-dodecyloxybenzoate (ODBP-Ph-O-C12) which we reported earlier. These compounds exhibit behavior indicative of a biaxial nematic liquid crystal phase, which we hope to confirm using deuterium NMR spectroscopy in the next phase of this study.

Dingemans, Theo J.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Kinematics and dynamics of disclination lines in three-dimensional nematics

An exact kinematic law for the motion of disclination lines in nematic liquid crystals as a function of the tensor order parameter Q is derived. Unlike other order parameter fields that become singular at their respective defect cores, the tensor order parameter remains regular. Following earlier experimental and theoretical work, the disclination core is defined to be the line where the uniaxial and biaxial order parameters are equal, or equivalently, where the two largest eigenvalues of Q cross. This allows an exact expression relating the velocity of the line to spatial and temporal derivatives of Q on the line, to be specified by a dynamical model for the evolution of the nematic. By introducing a linear core approximation for Q, analytical results are given for several prototypical configurations, including line interactions and motion, loop annihilation, and the response to external fields and shear flows. Behaviour that follows from topological constraints or defect geometry is highlighted. Finally, the analytic results are shown to be in agreement with three-dimensional numerical calculations based on a singular Maier–Saupe free energy that allows for anisotropic elasticity.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Electrical Switching of Nematic Plasmonic Nanocolloids for Infrared Solar Gain Control

Controlling solar gain is essential to reduce the energy consumption by residential and commercial buildings, which are responsible for ≈40% of all energy generated globally. However, the dynamic control of solar gain in the near-infrared that corresponds to ≈50% of the overall Sun's energy at the Earth's surface, separately from the visible spectral range has been a challenge, albeit commercial coatings provide passive control while retaining highly visible transmission. To address this problem, in this paper switchable silver colloids (SSCs) are demonstrated, colloidal analogs of the common silver coatings used for solar gain control. When dispersed in a nematic liquid crystal, orientations of such plasmonic silver nanoplates are controlled by ≈1 V low-voltage electric fields, allowing for sub-second switching of the near-infrared-based solar gain. Installed and retrofit products made from thin films of such nanoplate dispersions confined between glass and plastic substrates, respectively, exhibit electrically controlled infrared-based solar gain while retaining high visible-range transparency, low haze, and high color rendering index. Furthermore, this study's findings reveal a great potential of soft-matter systems in addressing energy-related problems.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Fusion and fission of particle-like chiral nematic vortex knots

Vortex knots have been seen decaying in many physical systems. Here we describe topologically protected vortex knots, which remain stable and undergo fusion and fission and conserve a topological invariant. The host medium, a chiral nematic liquid crystal, exhibits intrinsic chirality of molecular alignment, whereas cores of the vortex lines are structurally achiral regions in which a molecular twist cannot be defined. We can reversibly switch between fusion and fission of these vortex knots by applying electric pulses. This reveals the physical embodiments of concepts in knot theory, such as connected sums of knots and band surgeries. Our findings demonstrate the interplay of chirality effects at hierarchical levels from constituent molecules to the host medium and the energetically stable chiral vortex knots. This emergent physical behaviour may enable applications in electro-optics and photonics in which such fusion and fission processes of vortex knots can be used for controlling light.

Applied mathematics↗
DOE OSTI2025

Reflection and refraction of directrons at the interface

Reflection and refraction are ubiquitous phenomena with extensive applications, yet minimizing energy loss and information distortion during these processes remains a significant challenge. This study examines the behavior of structurally stable solitons, known as directrons, in nematic liquid crystals interacting with an interface where the director field orientation changes, despite identical physical properties, external potentials, and boundary anchoring in the two regions. During reflection and refraction, the directrons maintain nearly constant structure and velocity, ensuring energy conservation and information integrity. Microscopic analyses of the director field and macroscopic evaluations of effective potential are employed to elucidate the dependence of reflection and refraction probabilities on the directron’s incident angle and the orientation difference across the interface. The findings provide valuable insights into the dynamics of solitary waves in structured liquid crystal systems, offering significant implications for the development of tunable photonic devices, reconfigurable optical systems, and nanoscale material engineering.

Science & Technology - Other Topics↗
NASA NTRS1972

Optical memory development. Volume 1: prototype memory system

The design, development, and implementation of a prototype, partially populated, million bit read-write holographic memory system using state-of-the-art components are described. The system employs an argon ion laser, acoustooptic beam deflectors, a holographic beam splitter (hololens), a nematic liquid crystal page composer, a photoconductor-thermoplastic erasable storage medium, a silicon P-I-N photodiode array, with lenses and electronics of both conventional and custom design. Operation of the prototype memory system was successfully demonstrated. Careful attention is given to the analysis from which the design criteria were developed. Specifications for the major components are listed, along with the details of their construction and performance. The primary conclusion resulting from this program is that the basic principles of read-write holographic memory system are well understood and are reducible to practice.

Cosentino, L. S.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Film thickness measurements on five fluid formulations by the mercury squeeze film capacitance technique

The thinning characteristics of five fluids were studied by measuring film thickness as a function of time. The mercury squeeze film capacitance technique was used. All tests were performed at room temperature. The synthetic hydrocarbon plus a nematic liquid crystal, N-(p-methoxybenzylidene)-p-butylaniline, thinned according to a Newtonian model and retained its bulk viscosity. The synthetic hydrocarbon plus a phosphonate antiwear additive and the synthetic hydrocarbon plus n-hexadecanol produced residual thick films. The synthetic hydrocarbon base fluids and the synthetic hydrocarbon plus a paraffinic resin displayed viscosity increases during thinning, but no residual films were formed.

Jones, W. R., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Analysis of benzo(a)pyrene in airborne particulates by gas chromatography

A routine method was developed to measure benzo(a)pyrene in airborne particulates. Samples were collected on a filter and the organic portion was extracted with cyclohexane. The polynuclear hydrocarbon (PNHC) fraction was separated from the aliphatics by column chromatography. An internal standard was added to the extract and a portion of it was injected into a gas chromatograph. Although the gas chromatographic method has often been reported in the literature, satisfactory separation of benzo(a)pyrene and benzo(e)pyrene has not been achieved. With the introduction of a nematic liquid crystal as the stationary phase good separation is now possible.

Luedecke, E.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Development of an optical parallel logic device and a half-adder circuit for digital optical processing

The paper describes the fabrication and operation of an optical parallel logic (OPAL) device which performs Boolean algebraic operations on binary images. Several logic operations on two input binary images were demonstrated using an 8 x 8 device with a CdS photoconductor and a twisted nematic liquid crystal. Two such OPAL devices can be interconnected to form a half-adder circuit which is one of the essential components of a CPU in a digital signal processor.

Athale, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS1980

An experimental investigation of convection in a fluid that exhibits phase change

Convection flows were systematically observed in a layer of fluid between two isothermal horizontal boundaries. The working fluid was a nematic liquid crystal, which exhibits a liquid-liquid phase change at which latent heat is released and the density changed. In addition to ordinary Rayleigh-Benard convection when either phase is present alone, there exist two types of convective motions initiated by the unstable density difference. When a thin layer of heavy fluid is present near the top boundary, hexagons with downgoing centers exist with no imposed thermal gradient. When a thin layer of light fluid is brought on near the lower boundary, the hexagons have upshooting centers. In both cases, the motions are kept going once they are initiated by the instability due to release of latent heat. Relation of the results to applicable theories is discussed.

Fitzjarrald, D. E.↗
NASA NTRS1991

The Eckhaus and the Benjamin-Feir instability near a weakly inverted bifurcation

We investigate how the criteria for two prototype instabilities in one dimensional pattern forming systems, namely for the Eckhaus instability and for the Benjamin-Feir instability, change as one goes from a continuous bifurcation, to a spatially periodic or spatially and/or time periodic state, to the corresponding weakly inverted, i.e., hysteretic, cases. We also give the generalization to two dimensional patterns in systems with anisotropy as they arise from hydrodynamic instabilities in nematic liquid crystals.

Brand, Helmut R.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Rectified Rotational Dynamics of Mobile Inclusions in Two-Dimensional Active Nematics

We investigate the dynamics of mobile inclusions embedded in 2D active nematics. The interplay between the inclusion shape, boundary-induced nematic order, and autonomous flows powers the inclusion motion. Disks and achiral gears exhibit unbiased rotational motion, but with distinct dynamics. In comparison, chiral gear-shaped inclusions exhibit long-term rectified rotation, which is correlated with dynamics and polarization of nearby +1/2 topological defects. Furthermore, the chirality of defect polarities and the active nematic texture around the inclusion correlate with the inclusion’s instantaneous rotation rate. Inclusions provide a promising tool for probing the rheological properties of active nematics and extracting ordered motion from their inherently chaotic motion.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Inferring the Isotropic-Nematic Phase Transition with Generative Machine Learning

Generative machine learning models are capable of learning the phase behavior in condensed matter systems such as the Ising model. We utilize a score-based modeling procedure called thermodynamic maps to describe the isotropic-nematic phase transition in a melt of Gay-Berne ellipsoids. When trained on samples from a single temperature on either side of the phase transition, this generative machine learning approach infers effectively the nematic order parameter at intermediate temperatures. Furthermore, these results demonstrate score-based models’ ability to learn the physics of a nontrivial liquid crystal phase transition.

Critical exponents↗
DOE OSTI2025

Optically Addressable Light Valve Based on a GaN:Mn Photoconductor

Semi-insulating manganese-doped gallium nitride (GaN:Mn) layers epitaxially grown on unintentionally doped GaN substrates were used as photoconductors in optically addressable light valves (OALVs) to withstand higher operational laser fluences compared to current state-of-the-art OALVs where bismuth silicon oxide (BSO; Bi 12 SiO 20 ) layers are used as photoconductors. GaN:Mn promises to be an exciting material for optoelectronic operations due to its large laser fluence handling capability and photoresponsivity near the band edge. The laser damage thresholds for the semi-insulating epitaxial GaN:Mn layer and the n-type substrate layer were measured to be 2.4 and 4.2 J/cm 2 , respectively. These are 6–10 times higher than that of BSO (0.4 J/cm 2 ). These measurements were performed by exposing ~200 sites on the samples to increasing fluence levels from a Gaussian pulsed Nd:YAG laser system (1064 nm) operating at a 5 Hz repetition rate with a 3 ns pulse width. Photoresponsivity of the GaN:Mn material was investigated at discrete wavelengths of 447, 405, and 380 nm. Further, the peak photoresponsivity was observed under an illumination wavelength of 380 nm and is attributed to stronger absorption. The OALV was fabricated by attaching a 110-μm-thick GaN:Mn layer grown on a 280-μm-thick n-GaN layer to a 3-mm-thick BK7 optical window. A twisted nematic E7 liquid crystal was introduced to the 5 μm gap between the two components. Transmission levels of >90% were achieved for the fabricated OALVs for a peak voltage of 40 V, constrained by transmission “bleed-through”.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗