Shear-enhanced elasticity in the cubic blue phase I

TL;DR

This paper investigates the rheological properties of cubic blue phase I, revealing that pre-shear significantly enhances its elasticity due to disclination line rearrangements, advancing understanding of its dynamic behavior.

Contribution

It demonstrates that applying pre-shear can markedly increase the elasticity of BPI by restructuring disclination lines, a novel insight into its rheological behavior.

Findings

Elasticity of BPI is increased by an order of magnitude with pre-shear.

Disclination line rearrangement underlies shear-enhanced elasticity.

Results improve understanding of disclination dynamics in cubic blue phases.

Abstract

We present results of the linear and non-linear rheology of cubic blue phase I (BPI). The elasticity of BPI is dominated by double-twist cylinders assembled in a body-centered cubic lattice, which can be specified by disclination lines. We find that the elasticity of BPI is enhanced by an order of magnitude by applying pre-shear. The shear-enhanced elasticity is attributed to a rearrangement of the disclination lines that are arrested in a metastable state. Our results are relevant for the understanding of the dynamics of disclinations in cubic blue phases.