2026 · Publication
Printable Bifocal Microlenses
M. Talwar, Z. Siddiquee, A. Jákli — bifocal microlenses printed from ferroelectric nematic liquid crystal droplets, in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.
See publicationAdvanced Materials & Liquid Crystal Institute
Kent State University
Liquid Crystals & Responsive Soft Matter
Ferroelectric nematics, ionic elastomers, responsive fibers — designed for sensing, actuation, and next-generation optics.
About the lab
Two labs, one workflow — from synthesis to characterization
Our work spans two connected spaces. In the chemistry lab, we synthesize new liquid crystals, ionic elastomers, and responsive soft materials from the molecule up.
Next door, our characterization lab puts those materials to the test — probing their structure, electro-optic response, and mechanical behavior to understand how they sense, move, and switch.
2026 · Publication
Transient Negative Capacitance
N. P. Dhakal, M. Talwar, Z. Siddiquee, et al. — transient negative capacitance in ferroelectric and twist-bend ferroelectric nematic liquid crystals, in Soft Matter.
See publication2026 · Publication
Low-Power Temperature Control
M. S. H. Himel, R. Dharmarathna, N. P. Dhakal, et al. — low-power temperature control by chiral ferroelectric nematic liquid crystal windows, in Laser & Photonics Reviews.
See publication2021 · Award
Alfred Saupe Prize
Dr. Jákli received the 2021 Alfred Saupe Prize for contributions to liquid crystal science.
2026 · Conference
APS Global Physics Summit
Manisha Talwar, Zakaria Siddiquee, Minakshi Gill, and Netra Prasad Dhakal presented their research at the APS Global Physics Summit in Denver, Colorado.
Ongoing
Welcoming new members
Our group continues to grow with new graduate students across Physics, Chemical Physics, and Materials Science.
Recognition
Featured on the Cover
Selected for journal and catalog covers. Click a thumbnail to view full size.
