Queen’s University Selects Linkam Stages

For 10 years, Linkam Scientific Instruments has been used as temperature stage suppliers to Queen’s University in Canada to study the properties of ferroelectric liquid crystals.

The research program, led by Professor Robert Lemieux and his Kingston, Ontario-based team, focuses on the rational design of chiral and achiral molecular components of ferroelectric liquid crystal mixtures based on principles of self-assembly and molecular recognition.

To observe the texture changes at the SmA-SmC phase transition, the use of Linkam’s LTS-350 hot stage provides precise temperature control for the purpose of understanding the thermal properties of liquid crystals during the phase transition, which is crucial to the establishment of structure-property relationships utilized in the design of new materials with improved properties.

The LTS-350 design also makes possible the integration of thermal polarized optical microscopy with the automated liquid crystal analysis systems by LC Vision. It is used to measure the spontaneous polarization and optical tilt angle of ferroelectric SmC liquid crystals induced by a variety of chiral dopants.

Linkam develops and manufactures a range of heating and freezing stages for both OEM and end users to visualize and explore materials properties.

For more information, visit: www.linkam.co.uk