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Despite the large quantity of phenomenological information concerning the bulk properties of nematic phase liquid crystals, little is understood about the origin of the surface energy, particularly the surface, interfacial, and anchoring properties of liquid crystals that affect the performance of liquid crystal devices. Self-contained and unique, Adsorption Phenomena and Anchoring Energy in Nematic Liquid Crystals provides an account of new and established results spanning three decades of research into the problems of anchoring energy and adsorption phenomena in liquid crystals.

The book contains a detailed discussion of the origin and possible sources of anchoring energy in nematic liquid crystals, emphasizing the dielectric contribution to the anchoring energy in particular. Beginning with fundamental surface and anchoring properties of liquid crystals and the definition of the nematic phase, the authors explain how selective ion adsorption, dielectric energy density, thickness dependence, and bias voltage dependence influence the uniform alignment of liquid crystals and affect the performance of liquid crystal devices. They also discuss fundamental equations regulating the adsorption phenomenon and the dynamic aspects of ion adsorption phenomenon in liquid crystalline systems.

Adsorption Phenomena and Anchoring Energy in Nematic Liquid Crystals serves as an excellent source of reference for graduates and researchers working in liquid crystals, complex fluids, condensed matter physics, statistical physics, chemical engineering, and electronic engineering, as well as providing a useful general introduction to and background information on the nematic liquid crystal phase.

Despite the large quantity of phenomenological information concerning the bulk properties of nematic phase liquid crystals, little is understood about the origin of the surface energy, particularly the surface, interfacial, and anchoring properties of liquid crystals that affect the performance of liquid crystal devices. Adsorption Phenomena and Anchoring Energy in Nematic Liquid Crystals provides a unique, self-contained account of new and established results spanning three decades of research into the problems of anchoring energy and adsorption phenomena in liquid crystals. This is an excellent source of reference for anyone working with liquid crystals or complex fluids.

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NEMATIC LIQUID CRYSTALS: FUNDAMENTALS AND BULK PROPERTIES
Nematic Order Parameters
Maier-Saupe Approach for the Nematic-Isotropic Phase Transition
Continuum Description of the Nematic Phase
External Field Contribution to the Elastic Energy Density
Equilbrium Configuration in Strong and Weak Anchoring Situations

NEMATIC LIQUID CRYSTALS: SURFACE PROPERTIES
Anchoring
The Anchoring Energy Function
Periodic Deformations in Nematic Liquid Crystals
Spontaneous Periodic Distortions in Nematic Liquid Crystals: Dependence on the Tilt Angle
Theoretical Models for the Surface Free Energy
Stochastic Contribution to the Anchoring Energy: Deviation from the Rapini-Papolar Expression
Validity of the Elastic Model for Nematic Surface Anchoring Energy
Contribution of the Smectic-Nematic to the Surface Energy

TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE OF THE SURFACE FREE ENERGY
Thermal Relaxation Model of Surface Director Gliding in Lyotropic Liquid Crystals
Thermal Renormalization of the Anchoring Energy
Temperature Induced Surface Transition in Nematic Liquid Crystals Oriented by Evaporated SiOx
A Local Self-Consistent Approach to the Phase Transition at the Nematic Liquid Crystal - Wall Interface

SURFACE ADSORPTION OF PARTICLES: GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
Introduction
Statement of the Problem: Langmuir's Isotherm
Surface Adsorption and Anchoring Transition
Photo-Manipulation of the Anchoring Strength of Photochromic Nematic Liquid Crystal
Adsorption of Magnetic Grains in Magnetic Fluids
Selective Ionic Adsorption in Liquid Crystals

SURFACE ELECTRIC FIELD-INDUCED INSTABILITIES IN NEMATIC LIQUID CRYSTALS SAMPLE
The General Electrostatic Model
Analysis I: Variation Solution of the Eigenvalue Problem
Analysis II: Series Solution of the Eigenvalue Problem
Role of the Elastic Term Linear in the Spatial Derivatives of the Nematic Director in a 1D Geometry
Conclusions

IONS AND NEMATIC SURFACE ENERGY: BEYOND THE EXPONENTIAL APPROXIMATION FOR THE ELECTRIC FIELD OF IONIC ORIGIN
Introduction
Theoretical Model: Non-Linear Poisson-Boltzman Equation
External Electric Field Effect in the Nematic Anchoring Energy
Contribution to the Surface Energy of Dielectric Origin
Conclusions

ADSORPTION PHENOMENON AND EXTERNAL FIELD EFFECT ON AN ISOTROPIC LIQUID CONTAINING IMPURITIES
Introduction
The Model
The Charge and Field Distributions
Ionic Adsorption in the Absence of External Equilibrium Distribution of Charges
Extensions of the Model
Influence of the Adsorption Energy in the Dieletric Contribution to the Anchoring Energy

FERMILIKE DESCRIPTION OF THE ADSORPTION PHENOMENON
Introduction
The Fermi-Like Model
Application: Ion Adsorption in Isotropic Fluids
Limits
Numerical Results
Conclusions

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