The experimental equipment of the Liquid Crystal Group in Stuttgart consists of:

Polarizing microscopy (Olympus BH-2, Leica DM-LP) with hot stages (Mettler FP 5, Instec HS1-i) for characterization / investigation of liquid crystalline materials and their mesomorphism in transmission and reflection. For microphotographs digital still and video cameras are available. The extension of the microscopes with an optical multi-channel analyzer (Lambda LS-200) allows the determination of the helical pitch through measurement of the selective reflection wavelength of chiral liquid crystal samples with helicoidal superstructure.

X-ray laboratory for structural investigations of liquid crystalline materials, consisting of an X-ray generator (Siemens, Cu-K_α, λ = 1.5418 Å, Ni-filter), flat camera and ‘Imaging plate’ 2D-detector system (Fuji BAS 3000) for investigations of wide angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) of samples aligned in a magnetic field. A high-accuracy temperature controller (Lake-Shore control system, rt. to 200°C), a Kratky compact camera (A. Paar) with sample temperature control and an electronic 1D-detector (M. Braun) for investigations of the small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) are also available. Additionally, a Bruker AXS NanoSTAR device for investigations of wide and small angle X-ray scattering, equipped with a temperature control unit, magnetic field for sample alignment and two-dimensional detector. The special setup of the NanoSTAR allows for SAXS-investigations of periodicities ranging from 1 nm to 100 nm.

Chemical laboratory with basic equipment for synthesis and purification as well as sample preparation.

Optical laboratory with a vibration-damped optical table and basic opto-mechanical equipment for construction of various optical and electro-optical experiments on liquid crystals, e.g. pitch measurements by laser light diffraction or tilt- and birefringence measurements with a rotating analyzer.

Research electromagnet (Bruker B-E 25) for reorientation experiments on liquid crystal samples.

Electro-optics setup, consisting of a polarizing microscope with hot stage, waveform generator, power amplifier, photo detector, measuring amplifier and a digital storage oscilloscope, for studies of electro-optical effects in liquid crystals.

Dielectric spectroscopy setup (5 Hz - 1 GHz) consisting of a low-frequency impedance analyzer (Hewlett Packard HP 4192A, 5 Hz - 13 MHz), a radio-frequency reflectometer (Hewlett Packard HP 4291B, 1 MHz - 1 GHz), various measuring cells, a sample temperature controller (Novocontrol, Novotherm) as well as control- and analysis software for investigations of the dielectric properties / relaxations in liquid crystal materials. More details here.

Polarimeter (Perkin-Elmer 241 MC) for measuring the optical rotation dispersion (ORD), e.g. for determination of handedness and pitch of chiral liquid crystals with a helicoidal superstructure.