SP01 Interfacial Phenomena of Liquid Crystals : Past, Present and Future

Abstract

Interfaces of liquid crystals are unique in that they can often dominate the behaviors of the bulk. At the root of this fact lies the hierarchical nature of the liquid-crystal interface across the nanometer scale. Past studies have been mostly focused on characterization and utilization of "uniform" and "static" interfaces from both macroscopic and microscopic viewpoints. After a brief summary of its background, I would like to propose that now is the time to embark on exploration of "nonuniform" and "dynamic" interfaces toward a vast new world of interfacial science and technology of liquid crystals.