Temperature gradient sensing mechanism using liquid crystal droplets with 0.1-mK-level detection accuracy and high spatial resolution

We proposed the detection mechanism of the micro-levels of temperature gradient in a micro-electromechanical system using the unidirectional rotation of cholesteric-liquid crystal (Ch-LC) droplets. Ch-LC droplets in the presence of an isotropic phase subjected to a heat flux rotate with a speed prop...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Scientific reports 2022-08, Vol.12 (1), p.13733-13733, Article 13733
Main Authors: Bono, Shinji, Konishi, Satoshi
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
639/301/1005/1009
639/301/923/919
Accuracy
Efficiency
Electric properties
Electrodes
Glass substrates
Heat
Humanities and Social Sciences
Motion picture directors & producers
multidisciplinary
Rotational behavior
Science
Science (multidisciplinary)
Spatial discrimination
Temperature
Temperature gradients
Thin films
Velocity
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Summary:We proposed the detection mechanism of the micro-levels of temperature gradient in a micro-electromechanical system using the unidirectional rotation of cholesteric-liquid crystal (Ch-LC) droplets. Ch-LC droplets in the presence of an isotropic phase subjected to a heat flux rotate with a speed proportional to the magnitude of the temperature gradient. We further quantified the temperature gradient-to-torque conversion efficiency to apply the thermomechanical cross-correlation to the detection of temperature gradient. Then, we observed the rotational behavior of Ch-LC droplets after introducing them onto model devices containing patterned Au thin-film electrodes. Direct electric current applied to these Au electrodes results in unidirectional rotation of the Ch-LC droplets in response to heat flux generated from the Au electrodes. By evaluating the possible temperature gradient detection resolution using Ch-LC droplet rotation, we show that Ch-LC droplets can achieve both high spatial resolution (~ 10 µm) and high detection accuracy (~ 0.1 mK/µm).
ISSN:2045-2322
2045-2322
DOI:10.1038/s41598-022-18008-y