Some properties of membranes in nematic solvents

TL;DR

This paper explores how membranes in nematic solvents exhibit increased rigidity, altered stabilization energies, and potential phase separation, based on the Berreman-de Gennes model, with implications for experimental systems.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the physical properties of membranes in nematic solvents, highlighting differences from isotropic environments and potential phase behaviors.

Findings

Membranes are more rigid and less rough in nematic solvents.

Helfrich stabilization energy scales as d^{-3} in nematic environments.

Membranes can undergo phase separation via unbinding during quenches.

Abstract

The fluctuation spectrum of membranes in nematic solvents is altered by the boundary condition imposed on the bulk nematic director by the curved membrane. We discuss some properties of single and multi-membrane systems in nematic solvents, primarily based on the Berreman-de~Gennes model. We show that: membranes in nematic solvents are more rigid and less rough than in their isotropic counterparts; have a different Helfrich steric stabilization energy, proportional to $d^{-3}$, and hence a different compression modulus in the lamellar state; and can exhibit phase separation via unbinding during a quench into the nematic state. We also discuss the preparation and possible experimental effects of nematic-mediated surfactant membrane system.