Phase Separation in Mixtures of Nematic and Isotropic Fluids
arXiv:2503.24101 · doi:10.1146/annurev-conmatphys-031324-024345
Abstract
Mixtures of nematic liquid crystals and isotropic fluids display a diverse range of phase behaviors, arising from the coupling between orientational order and concentration fluctuations. In this review, we introduce a simplified mathematical framework that integrates the Landau-de Gennes free energy for nematic ordering with the Cahn-Hilliard free energy for phase separation. We derive the corresponding governing equations and analyze the stability of uniform phases, along with the resulting interfacial phenomena. The review concludes with a brief discussion highlighting key differences in phase separation between mixtures of isotropic fluids with passive and active nematics.
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