Recent Achievements in Nematic Liquid Crystals
A special issue of Crystals (ISSN 2073-4352). This special issue belongs to the section "Liquid Crystals".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 4
Special Issue Editors
Interests: supramolecular chemistry; organic functional materials; liquid crystals; azobenzene; soft matter; SAXS/WAXS; microscopy
Interests: covalent organic frameworks (COFs); metal-organic frameworks (MOFs); porous polymers; conjugated polymers; nanoparticles; heterogeneous catalysis; mechanochemistry; porous organic polymers
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Nematic liquid crystals continue to be an important area of research due to their unique combination of long-range orientational order and fluidity, which leads to their applications in displays, photonics, and materials science. In recent years, the field has witnessed significant breakthroughs that are reshaping our understanding and application of nematic phases. This Special Issue aims to showcase the latest achievements in nematic liquid crystals, with a focus on these major areas: (a) Novel functional materials with innovative molecular designs, such as bent-core, discotics, and calamitics, with extensive π-conjugation, which have enabled the development of nematic phases at lower temperatures, expanding the operational range and functionality of these materials for optoelectronic applications. (b) The emergence and characterization of polar, ferroelectric, and antiferroelectric characteristics in the nematic phases, along with spontaneous polarization, which have opened new avenues for research and device engineering. These findings deepen our understanding of polar order and phase transitions in nematic systems. (c) The synthesis, characterization, and theoretical modeling of the twist-bend nematic (NTB) phase, which demonstrates the potential of nematic crystals in advanced display technologies and chiral photonics. (d) Advances in chiral nematics, including studies of chiral induction mechanisms, self-assembly, and applications in chiral photonics and sensing. By bringing together original research, reviews, and perspectives, this Special Issue will provide a comprehensive overview of the state of the art in nematic liquid crystal science. It will highlight both fundamental discoveries and emerging applications, fostering interdisciplinary dialogue and inspiring future innovations in the field. Researchers, material scientists, and engineers are invited to contribute their latest findings to advance the frontiers of nematic liquid crystal research.
Dr. Supreet Kaur
Dr. Yogendra Nailwal
Guest Editors
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Keywords
- nematics
- polar
- ferroelectric and antiferroelectric
- functional materials
- twist-bend nematic
- chiral nematics
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