Anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membrane composed of hexagonal, closely packed nanochannel arrays has gained significant attention due to its structural potential as a template material for metal/metal oxide nanowires, energy storage, catalysts and sensor system. We describe the spatial confinement effect of liquid crystal loaded in surface modified AAO. Orientation of liquid crystal molecules in surface modified AAO affected by surface tension and surface energy so helical nanofilament and nanodisk can be spontaneously assembled depending on surface properties with same materials. Electron microscope cross section images of the liquid crystals in surface modified nanochannel revealed the tendency and correlation between the surface energy and the geometrical conformation of liquid crystals. GIXD (Grazing incidence x-ray diffraction) analysis also shows the details of molecule orientation and layer align direction. Our approaches will be helpful for fundamental studies and applications which describe the liquid crystal confinement effects on surface treatment in AAO confinement system.

AAO as a 1D template for geometric confinement of liquid crystals

245th National Meeting (2013)

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