Introduction to Colloidal and Microfluidic Nematic Microstructures

In this review paper, we give a selected review on colloidal and micro fluidic nematic microstructures, as enabled by the inherent anisotropy and microscopic orientational ordering in complex liquid crystalline materials. We give a brief overview of the mesoscopic theory - for equilibrium and dynamics - of nematic fluids, that provides the framework for understanding, characterisation and even prediction of such microstructures, with particular comment also on the role of topology and topological defects. Three main types of nematic microstructures are highlighted: stable or metastable structures in nematic colloids, stationary nematic microfluidic structures, and ferromagnetic liquid crystal structures. Finally, this paper is in honour of Noel A. Clark as one of the world pioneers that helped to shape this field of complex and functional soft matter.