Daniel Vorländer

Daniel Vorländer
Born	(1867-06-11)11 June 1867 Eupen, Rhine Province
Died	8 June 1941(1941-06-08) (aged 73) Halle, Province of Saxony
Nationality	Prussian
Alma mater	University of Halle
Known for	Liquid Crystals
Scientific career
Fields	Chemist
Institutions	University of Halle
Doctoral advisor	Jacob Volhard
Doctoral students	Hermann Staudinger

Daniel Vorländer (11 June 1867 – 8 June 1941) was a German chemist who synthesized most of the liquid crystals known until his retirement in 1935.

Vorländer was born in Eupen in Rhenish Prussia. He studied chemistry at Kiel, Munich, and Berlin, after which he became a professor at University of Halle-Wittenberg.

Vorländer applied his knowledge of molecular structure to select those exhibiting the crystalline liquid state. In particular a linear molecular geometry was conductive. "Over the years Vorländer and his students synthesized hundreds of liquid crystalline compounds. An interesting discovery was that amongst the slimy liquid crystals were many soap and soap-like compounds." (Dunmur & Sluckin p 48)

Vorländer served as a volunteer during World War I, during which he received the Iron Cross. He died in Halle.

References

• David Dunmur & Tim Sluckin (2011) Soap, Science, and Flat-screen TVs: a history of liquid crystals, pp 43–9, Oxford University Press ISBN 978-0-19-954940-5 .

External links

• catalogus-professorum-halensis
• Weygand, Conrad (1943). "Daniel Vorländer. 11. 6. 1867–8. 6. 1941". Berichte der Deutschen Chemischen Gesellschaft (A and B Series). 76 (6): A41–A58. doi:10.1002/cber.19430760618.