Where Science Met Liquid Light
April 14-16, 2014 • Durham University, UK
Look at your smartphone screen, your flat-screen TV, or your digital watch. What do they all have in common? They all rely on one of nature's most fascinating states of matter—liquid crystals.
These remarkable materials flow like liquids but maintain some of the ordered structure of solids, making them perfect for controlling light in electronic displays. Each year, the researchers who unlock the secrets of these materials gather at the British Liquid Crystal Society (BLCS) Annual Meeting. The 28th edition of this conference, held in April 2014 at Durham University, showcased how liquid crystals continue to revolutionize technology while fascinating scientists with their mysterious properties 1 .
This meeting wasn't just about displays; it explored how these materials can create tunable holograms, bend light in exotic ways, and even help us understand biological systems. The research presented here touches everything from your phone screen to advanced medical imaging technologies and future communication systems.
The historic setting of Collingwood College at Durham University provided the perfect backdrop for this convergence of scientific excellence from 14-16 April 2014. The meeting brought together researchers from diverse departments—chemistry, materials science, physics, engineering, and mathematics—highlighting the fundamentally interdisciplinary nature of liquid crystal science 1 .
The conference featured 28 talks and 34 posters presented over three intensive days, covering the full spectrum of liquid crystal research from synthesis to simulations. But beyond the formal presentations, the event fostered collaboration and friendship through poster sessions, social gatherings at the college bar, and even "closely contested rounds of pool or table tennis" that provided informal settings for scientists to exchange ideas and nurture professional relationships 1 .
The international character of the meeting was evident through participants from both national and international institutions. Invited speakers came from prestigious universities worldwide, including Kent State University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Colorado, and University of Ljubljana 1 . This global perspective enriched discussions and provided complementary approaches to solving challenges in the field.
Early-career researchers played a significant role in the conference, with student members presenting their work and even serving on society committees. Simon Wood from the University of Oxford, for instance, was elected as a Student Member of the BLCS Committee during the Annual General Meeting held at the conference 1 . This emphasis on nurturing young talent ensures the continued vitality of liquid crystal research in the coming decades.
The conference featured several invited talks that captivated attendees with cutting-edge research. The outstanding Sturgeon Lecture was delivered by Oleg Lavrentovich from Kent State University, who spoke on the fascinating subject of lyotropic chromonic liquid crystals 1 .
University of Pennsylvania
Mathematical models for liquid crystal structuresUniversity of Colorado
Novel molecular designsUniversity of Manchester
Advances in materials characterizationUniversity of Ljubljana
Breakthroughs in experimental techniquesThe oral and poster presentations covered a breathtaking range of topics, from fundamental physics to applied technology. Rachel Hyman from the University of Cambridge presented groundbreaking work on "Polarisation independent phase-modulation of light using polymer-stabilised blue phase liquid crystals"—research that would earn her the best oral presentation prize 1 .
Calum Williams, also from the University of Cambridge, won the poster prize for his work on "Tunable multifunctional nanostructured holograms using liquid crystals" 1 . His research demonstrated how liquid crystals can create dynamic holograms that might revolutionize augmented reality technologies and optical communications.
The final day of the conference featured a series of talks on synthetic chemistry by students from the University of Hull, followed by a thought-provoking presentation by John Goodby (University of York) on "What makes a liquid crystal" which served as a tribute to George Gray, a pioneer in the field who passed away in May 2013 1 .
The conference dinner held in Collingwood College's dining hall provided the setting for recognizing outstanding contributions to the field. The Hilsum Medal was gracefully accepted by Tim Wilkinson from the University of Cambridge, while the Gray Medal was awarded to Mark Warner (also from Cambridge), though he could not attend in person 1 .
The Young Scientist Award was presented to Gareth Alexander from the University of Warwick, recognizing his promising contributions to the field 1 . Such awards not only celebrate individual achievements but also highlight the research directions that the community finds most exciting and valuable.
| Award Name | Recipient | Institution | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hilsum Medal | Tim Wilkinson | University of Cambridge | For outstanding contributions to liquid crystal applications |
| Gray Medal | Mark Warner | University of Cambridge | For lifetime achievements in liquid crystal research |
| Young Scientist Award | Gareth Alexander | University of Warwick | For promising work by an early-career researcher |
| Best Oral Presentation | Rachel Hyman | University of Cambridge | For work on polymer-stabilized blue phase LCs |
| Best Poster Prize | Calum Williams | University of Cambridge | For research on tunable nanostructured holograms |
One of the most exciting research presentations at the conference came from Rachel Hyman of the University of Cambridge, whose work on polymer-stabilized blue phase liquid crystals earned her the best oral presentation prize 1 . Blue phase liquid crystals represent a unique state of matter that exists within a very narrow temperature range between chiral nematic and isotropic phases.
Hyman's research addressed these limitations through a process called polymer stabilization, which involves adding a small amount of monomer to the liquid crystal mixture and then polymerizing it to create a scaffold that stabilizes the blue phase structure over a much wider temperature range.
The experimental procedure for creating and testing polymer-stabilized blue phase liquid crystals involves several precise steps:
Researchers first prepare a mixture of chiral dopants, liquid crystal compounds, and a small percentage (typically 5-10%) of UV-curable monomers and photoinitiator.
This mixture is then injected into specially prepared test cells consisting of two glass substrates separated by spacers to maintain a precise gap (usually 5-10 micrometers).
The filled cells are then exposed to UV light, which polymerizes the monomers, creating a nanoscale polymer network that stabilizes the blue phase structure.
Researchers apply electric fields across the electrodes and measure how the material responds optically using polarized microscopes, spectrophotometers, and other specialized equipment.
The modified materials are tested for critical parameters including response time, operating voltage, contrast ratio, and viewing angle dependence.
| Parameter | Significance | Measurement Techniques |
|---|---|---|
| Response Time | Determines how quickly displays can refresh | Electro-optical switching measurements |
| Operating Voltage | Affects power consumption and electronics requirements | Voltage-transmittance curves |
| Contrast Ratio | Determines image quality and readability | Optical transmission measurements |
| Temperature Range | Defines practical usability conditions | Polarizing microscopy with temperature stage |
| Hysteresis | Affects accuracy of grayscale reproduction | Voltage cycling experiments |
Hyman's research demonstrated that polymer-stabilized blue phase liquid crystals could achieve polarization-independent phase modulation 1 . This is a significant breakthrough because conventional liquid crystal devices typically rely on controlling the polarization of light, which adds complexity and cost to display systems.
The research showed that these advanced materials could provide:
These properties make blue phase systems particularly attractive for next-generation displays, optical phased arrays for telecommunications, and adaptive optics systems for imaging applications.
Advancements in liquid crystal science depend on specialized materials, instruments, and techniques. Based on research presented at BLCS 2014, here are some of the essential components of the liquid crystal researcher's toolkit:
| Material/Technique | Function | Example Applications |
|---|---|---|
| Chiral Dopants | Induces helical twisting in nematic phases | Creating blue phase and chiral nematic systems |
| Reactive Mesogens | Polymerizable liquid crystals for stabilization | Forming polymer networks in patterned structures |
| Photoinitiators | Initiates polymerization under UV exposure | Creating polymer-stabilized systems |
| Alignment Layers | Controls liquid crystal orientation at surfaces | Determining initial director configuration |
| ITO-Coated Substrates | Provides transparent electrodes | Applying electric fields to liquid crystal cells |
| Modelling Software | Simulates liquid crystal behavior | Predicting electro-optical responses before fabrication |
| Polarized Microscopy | Visualizes liquid crystal textures | Identifying phases and defects |
| Spectrophotometry | Measures optical transmission properties | Characterizing display performance parameters |
The research presented at the conference highlighted how sophisticated modelling techniques have become essential for advancing the field. As noted in several presentations, finite element modelling approaches allow researchers to simulate the complex behavior of liquid crystals in devices, including effects at pixel edges and in microwave applications 3 .
Similarly, advanced characterization techniques such as high-speed imaging and precision electro-optical testing are crucial for understanding the fast response times of blue phase systems and other advanced materials presented at the conference.
The 28th British Liquid Crystal Society Annual Meeting in Durham showcased a field that is both mature and continuously reinventing itself.
While liquid crystal displays have become ubiquitous in our daily lives, fundamental research continues to reveal new surprises and possibilities—from tunable holograms that could revolutionize augmented reality to microwave devices that could enable next-generation communications 3 .
The conference highlighted how interdisciplinary collaboration remains essential to progress in the field. Chemists synthesize new materials with exotic properties, physicists characterize their behavior, engineers incorporate them into devices, and mathematicians develop models to explain their complex behavior.
As we look to the future, liquid crystals continue to offer tantalizing possibilities: biological sensors that can detect diseases earlier, metamaterials that can manipulate light in ways previously imagined only in science fiction, and energy-efficient displays that look more realistic than ever before.
The lasting impact of conferences like the BLCS Annual Meeting extends far beyond the immediate exchange of information. They foster collaborations that cross institutional and national boundaries, inspire young scientists to pursue creative solutions to challenging problems, and remind us all why we fell in love with science in the first place.