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Ferroelectric nematic liquid crystal thermomotor

Marcell Tibor Máthé1,2, Ágnes Buka1, Antal Jákli1,3,4, and Péter Salamon1,*

  • 1Institute for Solid State Physics and Optics, Wigner Research Centre for Physics, P.O. Box 49, Budapest H-1525, Hungary
  • 2Eötvös Loránd University, P.O. Box 32, H-1518 Budapest, Hungary
  • 3Materials Sciences Graduate Program and Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 44242, USA
  • 4Department of Physics, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 44242, USA

  • *Author to whom correspondence should be addressed: salamon.peter@wigner.hu
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Phys. Rev. E 105, L052701 – Published 6 May, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.105.L052701

Abstract

A thermal gradient-induced circular motion of particles placed on ferroelectric nematic liquid crystal sessile drops is demonstrated and explained. Unlike hurricanes and tornadoes that are the prime examples for thermal motors and where turbulent flows are apparent, here the texture without tracer particles appears completely steady indicating laminar flow. We provide a simple model showing that the tangential arrangement of the ferroelectric polarization combined with the vertical thermal gradient and the pyroelectricity of the fluid drives the rotation of the tracer particles that become electrically charged in the fluid. These observations provide a fascinating example of the unique nature of fluid ferroelectric liquid crystals.

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Phys. Rev. E 105, L052701– Published 6 May, 2022
  • Received 4 October 2021
  • Accepted 14 April 2022
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