ИСТИНА

The formation of heterogeneous nematic and smectic liquid crystals in the general case of an arbitrary geometry is investigated in the framework of molecular-statistical approach. The molecular aspects of the orientational and translational orderings at the curved surfaces of small solid objects dispersed in liquid crystal are considered, and the differential equations for gradients of the order parameters in vicinities of the small objects are presented in the general form. Five elastic constants are obtained within the same approach. Space variations of the order parameters can be observed within the 0.5–0.8μm area around any small object. Therefore, the liquid crystals can be a simple tool for the optical visualization of nano-objects. It is also demonstrated that the kind of molecular self-organization (Sm, N or I) at the surfaces of small solid objects can be different from that in the bulk LC. It is also shown that 10 μm-size solid objects and larger act almost as flat surfaces, while 1μm-size solid objects and smaller act almost as point defects.