Engineering Physics

(BS15T)
-Prof. Nilesh Deokar
[email protected]
Office: D-block, 101

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Lecture #13
Module 5: Engineering materials and applications
Definition: Liquid crystal (LC) is a state of matter whose properties are between those of conventional
liquids and those of solid crystals.

● They flow like a liquid but have some degree of molecular order, which allows them to manipulate
light effectively.
● Liquid crystals are responsive to stimuli like temperature, electric and magnetic fields, and chemicals.
● Liquid crystals manipulate light by controlling the alignment of their rod-shaped molecules, which
affects light's polarization and direction.

Image:
https://advlabs.aapt.org/wiki/Physics_of_Liquid_Crystals
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Lecture #13
Liquid crystals
Based on the orientation and position of the molecules, there are three phases of the liquid crystals:

1. Nematic phase
2. Smectic phase
3. Cholesteric phase

1. Nematic phase:
Shape of Molecules: The molecules in nematic liquid crystals are long and thin,
like tiny rods.

How They Align: These rod-shaped molecules don’t sit still, but they like to point in
the same general direction

Liquid-Like Behavior: Even though the molecules align, they can still slide around
like in a liquid. This gives nematic liquid crystals their flexibility.
Image:
https://saylordotorg.github.io/text_general
-chemistry-principles-patterns-and-applic
ations-v1.0/s15-08-liquid-crystals.html
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Lecture #13
Liquid crystals
Key features of nematic crystals:

1. Orientational Order: In the nematic phase, the rod-like molecules align

roughly in the same direction, but they can move freely like in a liquid.

2. Lack of Positional Order: Unlike solid crystals, the molecules in nematic

liquid crystals do not arrange themselves in a regular, repeating pattern

3. Temperature Sensitivity:
a. Below threshold: become more ordered
b. Above threshold: lose their alignment and become an isotropic liquid

4. Tunable Refractive Index: Refractive index changes with orientation of the

molecules

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Lecture #13
Liquid crystals
2. Smectic phase:

Molecular Structure: Like nematic liquid crystals, smectic liquid crystals

are made of long, thin molecules.
Layered Arrangement: Unlike nematics, smectic liquid crystals arrange
themselves into layers, like a stack of pancakes.

Fluid Layers: While the molecules within a layer are free to move around,
the layers themselves are organized, giving smectics more structure than
nematics.

Key features of smectic crystals:

1. Elasticity and Layer Deformations: Smectic layers are flexible but

resist deformation like bending, compression
Image:
https://saylordotorg.github.io/text_general
-chemistry-principles-patterns-and-applic
ations-v1.0/s15-08-liquid-crystals.html
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Lecture #13
Liquid crystals
Key features of smectic crystals:

2. Elasticity and Layer Deformations: Smectic layers are flexible but

resist deformation like bending, compression
3. Fluid-Like Behavior: Molecules can flow within a layer, and layers can slide
over one another

4. Self-Healing Layers: If a smectic liquid crystal layer is disrupted

(e.g., by a force or deformation), the material can often "heal"
itself by re-forming the layers naturally

Image:
https://saylordotorg.github.io/text_general
-chemistry-principles-patterns-and-applic
ations-v1.0/s15-08-liquid-crystals.html
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Lecture #13
Liquid crystals
3. Cholesteric phase:

Chiral Structure: Cholesteric liquid crystals are like nematic liquid crystals
because their rod-like molecules align in the same general direction. However,
the alignment twists in a spiral (helix) pattern.

Key features of cholesteric crystals:

1. Selective Reflection: They reflect specific wavelengths of light based on

their rotation.

2. Temperature: Cholesteric crystals can change their pitch with temperature,

altering the color of the light they reflect.

3. Colorful Reflection: They reflect specific wavelengths of light based on

their pitch, creating vibrant colors. Image:
https://saylordotorg.github.io/text_general
-chemistry-principles-patterns-and-applic
ations-v1.0/s15-08-liquid-crystals.html
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Lecture #13
Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)
An LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) is a screen that uses liquid crystals to show images. These crystals can
control how much light passes through them, allowing the screen to display pictures, text, and colors.

Image:
https://www.ornatepixels.com/2024/01/lcd-how-tft-lcd-works.html#google_vignette

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Lecture #13
Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)
1. Backlight:
● Acts as the primary light source for the LCD panel.
● Provides light for the images seen on the screen.
2. Vertical Polarizer:
● A filter that allows only vertically oscillating light waves to
pass through.
● Polarizes the light from the backlight before it interacts
with liquid crystals.
3. TFT (Thin Film Transistor) Substrate:
● A layer with transistors controlling each pixel on the display - determining whether a pixel allows light
or block it
4. Liquid Crystals Substrate:
● Contains liquid crystals that change orientation based on electric signals.

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Lecture #13
Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)
5. Color Filter/Pixel Structure:

● Divides each pixel into three subpixels (red, green, blue).

● Combines RGB subpixels to display a wide range of colors.

6. Horizontal Polarizer:

● Twisted light from the liquid crystals aligns horizontally to

pass through this filter and form the visible display.

7. Glass cover

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Lecture #13