An example of an NSOM image is shown in Figure 8.39, which shows the
topographical and cross-polarized optical NSOM images of spherical and
toroidal (donut-shaped) liquid crystal droplets suspended in a polymer.
Liquid crystals are materials that have properties between those of a
liquid and those of a solid. There are many types of liquid crystals based
on the orientation of molecules, but for our present purposes we merely
note that the general shape of the droplets is clearly seen in the topographical images and that the orientation of the crystals can be seen in the
cross-polarized images.
2 µm
2 µm
2 µm
1 µm
2 µm
Figure 8.39 NSOM images
of spherical and toroidal liquid
crystals suspended in a
polymer. (Image from E. Mei
et al., Langmuir, 1998, 14:
1945–1950 as shown in R. C.
Dunn, Chem. Rev., 1999, 99:
2891–2927. With permission.)
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