liquid crystal: Quick Facts

Written and fact-checked by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Facts

Also Known As	mesophase

Photos

Figure 1: Arrangements of molecules.

Diagram showing a twisted-nematic cell in two states: the top panel (off) depicts light passing through aligned liquid crystals and polarizers, making the assembly transparent; the bottom panel (on) shows an electric field disrupting the crystal alignment, blocking light and making the assembly opaque.

See All Images →

Topics

discotic phase hexatic-B phase nematic phase plastic crystal smectic phase lamellar phase neat soap cholesteric phase crystal-B phase crystal-G phase solution pleochroism double refraction symmetry polymorphism Brewster’s law How are crystals made?crystal defect twinning reststrahlen