Daniel Vorländer

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.

Daniel Vorländer
Born(1867-06-11)11 June 1867
Eupen, Rhine Province
Died8 June 1941(1941-06-08) (aged 73)
Halle, Province of Saxony
NationalityPrussian
Alma materUniversity of Halle
Known forLiquid Crystals
Scientific career
FieldsChemist
InstitutionsUniversity of Halle
Doctoral advisorJacob Volhard
Doctoral studentsHermann Staudinger

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 .


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