Liquid Crystal Structure of Supercooled Liquid Gallium and Eutectic Gallium–Indium

Understanding the origin of structural ordering in supercooled liquid gallium (Ga) has been a great scientific quest past decades. Here, reflective polarized optical microscopy on Ga sandwiched between glasses treated with rubbed polymers reveals onset an anisotropic reflection at 120 °C that increases cooling and persists down to room temperature or below. The polymer rubbing usually aligns director thermotropic crystals (LCs) parallel direction. On other hand, when is substrates align conventional LC molecules normal surface, isotropic, but mechanical shear force induces relaxes seconds. Such alignment effects shear-induced realignment are typical LCs indicate structure Ga. Specifically, textures obtained by atomic scanning electron reveal existence lamellar corresponding smectic phase, while nanometer-thin transparent under transmission microscopy. spatial molecular arrangements may be attributed dimer entities observation electrically conductive can provide new opportunities materials science applications.