Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
University of Manitoba
$122,116.00
Fluorescence confocal polarizing microscope system for liquid crystal nanocomposite characterization
FY 2008-09
Summary
The development of liquid crystals (LCs) and liquid crystal displays (LCDs) shows persuasively how large economic success can evolve from a pure research topic. Today, liquid crystal information displays enhance the quality of people's life worldwide. The ever-growing market of mobile phones, flat panel PC monitors, super-flat TV screens, colour view-finders, and other electronic consumer products is based on LC technology - that is, on the special properties of specifically designed LC molecules or mixtures. Our research group shares the opinion of many industry leaders (e.g., Merck KGaA) that new or improved display technologies will arise
from new materials combinations based on LCs and nanomaterials, if stable suspensions of appropriately functionalized nanomaterials in the LC phase can be produced, and if the nanomaterial improves the optical and/or electro-optic response of the LC host material.
To address these challenges, research in our laboratory is directed at the development of new series of metal nanoparticles and semiconductor quantum dots coated with optically active (chiral), LC and other structurally compatible molecules that maximize the solubility with common LC mixtures used in display applications.
Previous work in our lab on gold nanocluster has shown that we can induce (i) chiral LC phases, (ii) unique defects, and (iii) an unprecedented dual alignment and switching mode by doping LCs with gold clusters. To further our understanding of these unique phenomena and guide the development of emissive nanomaterials for LC mixtures with enhanced display characteristics, a Fluorescence Confocal Polarizing Microscopy (FCPM) system is requested. FCPM is the perfect tool to obtain detailed 3D (bulk) information on the ordering of LCs around nanomaterials, the nature and influence of defects, as well as the organization and distribution of nanoparticles in thin LC films. The tremendous amount of optical and spatial information generated by such FCPM system will allow us to extend our characterization of LC nanocomposites to an internationally leading level.
Program
Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Recipient
Location
Manitoba, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
374861-2009
Name nom
Hegmann, Torsten
Department département
Chemistry
Organization id
19
Institution établissement
University of Manitoba
Province en
Manitoba
Province fr
Manitoba
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2008
Competition year année de concours
2009
Award amount
122116
Program id
EQPEQ
Program nane en
Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Program name fr
Outils et instruments de recherche - catégorie 1 (<150 000$)
Group en
Discovery grants programs
Group fr
Programmes de subventions à la découverte
Committee code
24
Committee name en
Inorganic & Organic Chemistry
Committee name fr
Chimie inorg. et org.
Area of application code
602
Area of application group en
Construction, urban and rural planning
Area of application group fr
Construction, urbanisme et aménagement rural
Area of application en
Materials performance
Area of application fr
Performance des matériaux
Research subject code
2011
Research subject group en
Materials science and technology
Research subject group fr
Science et technologie des matériaux
Research subject en
Optical materials
Research subject fr
Matériaux optiques
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
Fluorescence confocal polarizing microscope system for liquid crystal nanocomposite characterization
Keyword
NA
Application summary
The development of liquid crystals (LCs) and liquid crystal displays (LCDs) shows persuasively how large economic success can evolve from a pure research topic. Today, liquid crystal information displays enhance the quality of people's life worldwide. The ever-growing market of mobile phones, flat panel PC monitors, super-flat TV screens, colour view-finders, and other electronic consumer products is based on LC technology - that is, on the special properties of specifically designed LC molecules or mixtures. Our research group shares the opinion of many industry leaders (e.g., Merck KGaA) that new or improved display technologies will arise
from new materials combinations based on LCs and nanomaterials, if stable suspensions of appropriately functionalized nanomaterials in the LC phase can be produced, and if the nanomaterial improves the optical and/or electro-optic response of the LC host material.
To address these challenges, research in our laboratory is directed at the development of new series of metal nanoparticles and semiconductor quantum dots coated with optically active (chiral), LC and other structurally compatible molecules that maximize the solubility with common LC mixtures used in display applications.
Previous work in our lab on gold nanocluster has shown that we can induce (i) chiral LC phases, (ii) unique defects, and (iii) an unprecedented dual alignment and switching mode by doping LCs with gold clusters. To further our understanding of these unique phenomena and guide the development of emissive nanomaterials for LC mixtures with enhanced display characteristics, a Fluorescence Confocal Polarizing Microscopy (FCPM) system is requested. FCPM is the perfect tool to obtain detailed 3D (bulk) information on the ordering of LCs around nanomaterials, the nature and influence of defects, as well as the organization and distribution of nanoparticles in thin LC films. The tremendous amount of optical and spatial information generated by such FCPM system will allow us to extend our characterization of LC nanocomposites to an internationally leading level.
