A significant focus in the study of isotropic fluids with ions (electrolytes) is placed on charge control, as it plays a key role in the properties of various systems. A common feature is that charge is controlled through surfaces formed between different fluids or between a fluid and a solid. However, setting up these surfaces is not trivial, which can lead to certain limitations in charge control. Compared to isotropic fluids, liquid crystals offer more possibilities for charge control due to their higher degree of order. Charge can be localized in the topological defects of the orientational order.
To better understand various electrostatic effects, including ions, on the dynamics of active complex nematic fluids, we investigated the influence of flexoelectricity and ion partitioning on ion-doped 2D active nematic liquid crystals through numerical simulations and theoretical analysis. First, we studied ion current and magnetic field distribution around single topological defects in active nematics, and then we also examined the role of ions in active turbulence, showing how ion-doped active nematics can generate voltage through variations in magnetic flux induced by moving topological defects.