An ancient theoretical insight proposes that a LC product with both an exceptionally big geometrical anisotropy and an intrinsic electric dipole is extremely anticipated to improve the electrical field responsivity of LCs.However, neither commercial organic LC particles nor R&D LC nanomaterials meet both aforementioned perquisites, while such LCs have not been reported so far. As for now, they are open questions for LC community about whether such an LC exists and the upper limitation of its electrical field responsivity.Discovery of Ferroelectricity in VermiculiteIn response to these concerns, for the very first time, the research study group led by Professor Bilu Liu from Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University reveal the ferroelectricity in a century-old clay mineral, vermiculite, in its monolayer limitation. Its electric field responsivity, i.e., the Kerr coefficient, raises the record value of Kerr coefficient by an order of magnitude.Considering that the 2D vermiculite LC represents a brand-new class of inorganic lyotropic LC with 2D ferroelectric materials, the physical insights supplied in this work, such as the relationship between the responsivity and geometrical anisotropy of LC products, have universality to other potential comparable LCs.a) AFM image of 2D vermiculite.
