Introduction to Liquid Crystals

This lecture introduces the characterization of liquid crystals, covering topics such as the visualization of samples, different microscopy techniques including light and electron microscopy, and the identification of liquid crystal types using polarized light microscopy. It also explores differential scanning calorimetry for measuring phase transitions and the formation of liquid crystals in solution. The lecture delves into the influence of structure on transition temperature, interactions with light, and the formation of liquid crystal elastomers through 3D printing.