Chiral Twisted Configuration of Lyotropic Chromonic Liquid Crystals in Toroidal Geometries

Abstract

We generate toroidal droplets of aqueous Sunset Yellow FCF (SSY) solutions and observe a spontaneously twisted ground state. By carrying out twist angle measurements along the Z direction of our toroidal droplets, we find that the total twist angle remains essentially π for all aspect ratios, agreeing with theoretical expectations. We also find the values of the splay, twist, bend, and saddle splay elastic constants by fitting our data to a theoretical curve.