Bio-filaments morphologies revealed by liquid crystal droplets

The structures of liquid crystal droplets, pierced by microfilaments, are very sensitive to small variations of the threads morphologies [1]. Studying the surface morphologies of filaments, with diameters of the order of micrometers, in particular natural fibres, is essential to the understanding of the relationship between their structure/properties. This work describes a simple way for surface detection of various fibres as well as non-woven membranes.

[1] L. E. Aguirre, A. de Oliveira, D. Sec, S. Copar, P. L. Almeida, M. Ravnik, M. H. Godinho and S. Žumer, PNAS 2016, 113(5), 1174–1179.

Please contact Isabel Saez (Isabel.saez@york.ac.uk; tel. extension 2607) if you are interested in talking to Professor Godinho