In this article we review interactions and collective behavior of inclusions in free-standing
smectic films with in-plane orientational ordering. The inclusions interact on large distances …

A flat, freely suspended film of smectic-A liquid crystal supports a pressure difference, Δp,
across its two free surfaces. The size of its meniscus is about 10 μm, 2 orders of magnitude …

We show that stable, freely suspended liquid crystal films can be made from the ferroelectric
nematic (NF) phase and from the recently discovered polar, lamellar SmZA and SmAF …

Mechanically quenching a thin film of smectic-C liquid crystal results in the formation of a
dense array of thousands of topological defects in the director field. The subsequent rapid …

Freely standing thin liquid films containing supramolecular structures including micelles,
nanoparticles, polyelectrolyte–surfactant complexes, and smectic liquid crystals undergo …

Freestanding films of soft matter containing micelles, nanoparticles, polyelectrolyte–
surfactant complexes, bilayers, and smectic liquid crystals exhibit stratification. Stepwise …

Toric focal conic domains (TFCDs) in smectic liquid crystals exhibit distinct topological
characteristics, featuring torus-shaped molecular alignment patterns with rotational …

In this paper we discuss the formation and shape of the meniscus between a free-standing
film of a smectic-A phase and a wall (in practice the frame that supports the film). The wall …

Colloidal particles at complex fluid interfaces and within films assemble to form ordered
structures with high degrees of symmetry via interactions that include capillarity, elasticity …

Smectic liquid crystal films a few molecular layers thick that are freely suspended in air are
used as a model system to study the coalescence of fluids in two dimensions. High-speed …