Electro-optical properties and(E,F) phase diagram of fluorinated chiral smectic liquid crystals

Fluorinated smectic liquid crystals each with a biphenyl benzoate rigid core are investigated. Molecular structures of the studied compounds have difference only in fluorine position and the length of the carbon chain. Dielectric relaxation study and electro-optical measurements are carried out with the classical SSFLC geometry. The field-induced phase transitions are studied and the（E,T） phase diagram is established.

SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF NOVEL CHIRAL SMECTIC C(Sc~*) PHASE SHISH-KEBAB TYPE LIQUID CRYSTALLINE BLOCK COPOLYMERS

A new series of chiral shish-kebab type liquid crystal block copolymers that form the smectic C(Sc*) phase was synthesized by solution polycondensation. The copolymers were characterized by GPC, DSC, TG, POM, X-ray diffraction and polarimeter. The copolymers 7 entered into liquid crystal phase whin they were heated to their melting temperatures (T-m) and the copolymers 8 were in liquid crystal phase at room temperature with low viscosities. The smectic sanded texture or focal-conic texture were observed on POM. All the chiral block copolymers showed high optical activity. No racemization has happened. Temperature-variable X-ray diffraction study together with POM and polarimetric analysis realized that they are chiral smectic C(Sc*) phase. Thus we offer in this report the first example of shish-kebab type liquid crystal block copolymers that form a chiral smectic C(Sc*) phase. The variation of melting and isotropization temperatures with molecular structure was also discussed.

Synthesis and mesomorphic behavior of benzothiazole-based liquid crystals having terminal methoxyl group

A homologous series of benzothiazole derivatives, 6-methoxy-2-（4-alkanoyloxybenzylidenamino）benzothiazoles, were synthesized and characterized using FT-IR, ^1H and ^13C NMR, mass spectrometry and elemental analysis. Enantiotropic nematic phase was observed throughout the entire series. Smectic C phase only emerged from the decanoyloxy derivative onwards. The terminal methoxyl group and the ester linkage influenced the mesomorphic behavior of the present series.

Reinvestigation of liquid crystalline property of dimesogenic compound consisting of cholesterol and cyanobiphenyl

The dimesogenic compound consisting of cholesterol and cyanobiphenyl mesogens interlinked by ω-oxyalkanoyl spacer was synthesized. The mesomorphic properties were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry （DSC）, polarizing optical microscopy （POM）, and X-ray diffraction （XRD）. The experimental results indicated that this compound exhibited mesophase over a much wider temperature range and a new mesophase blue phase （BP）. Focal conic domains （FCDs） and droplets texture to the smectic A phase （SA）, oily streaks typical to the chiral nematic （N＊） phase were found in the liquid crystalline state, respectively. Besides, it exhibited a smectic layer spacing about 1.0 time to the length of the molecule, which indicated a monolayer type of SA ordering. 2009 Hal Quan Zhang. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Chinese Chemical Society. All rights reserved.

Field-induced phase transitions in chiral smectic liquid crystals studied by the constant current method

In ferroelectric liquid crystals, phase transitions can be induced by an electric field. The current constant method allows these transition to be quickly localized and thus the（E, T） phase diagram of the studied product can be obtained.In this work, we make a slight modification to the measurement principles based on this method. This modification allows the characteristic parameters of ferroelectric liquid crystal to be quantitatively measured. The use of a current square signal highlights a phenomenon of ferroelectric hysteresis with remnant polarization at null field, which points out an effect of memory in this compound.

Synthesis and Characterization of ChiralLiquid Crystal CMPPCDP

novel chiral liquid crystal4'-( 2-chloro-4methylpentanoyloxy ) phenyl 2-cyano-3-(4' -n-dodecyloxyphenyl)propenoate (CMPPCDP ) was synthesized. The compound was characterized usingIR, ￣1H NNIR, elementary analysis. The liquid crystalline pliasc transition wasstudied using optical polarized micrography and differential scanning calorimetry.

Structure, Photochromism and Liquid Crystal Properties of 1-Alkyl-2-(Arylazo)Imidazoles (Raai-C_nH_2n+1, n (Even) = 10 - 22)

Photochromism is the reversible structural change of the molecules upon light irradiation having different spectral pattern before and after irradiation. Liquid crystal (LC) is a long-range orientational order of the molecules in between solid and isotropic liquid phases which share the properties of the crystal and liquid phases. 1-Alkyl-2-(ary-lazo)imidazoles, (Raai-CnH2n+1, R = H, Me and n = 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22) exhibits photochromism and two of them (Haai-C18H37 and Haai-C22H45) show Liquid crystal (LC) properties. One of these compounds, Meaai-C16H33 is structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction study. The compounds upon irradiation with UV light show E-to-Z isomerisation. Quantum yields (φE→Z) of E-to-Z isomerisation vary with the molar mass of the compounds. The reverse transformation, Z-to-E, is recorded in thermal condition. The activation energy (Ea) of isomerisation is determined by the controlled temperature reaction. Liquid crystal property of the molecules is examined by polarizing optical microscopy (POM) and DSC. The carbon chain length n = 18 shows nematic (N)-isotropic (I) phase transition and an unknown Smectic (Sm) phase is observed with n = 22 on heating cycle.

Dielectric anisotropy in liquid crystal mixtures with nematic and smectic phases

The modulation of dielectric anisotropy(△ε)is pivotal for elucidating molecular interactions and directing the alignment of liquid crystals.In this study,we combine liquid crystals with opposing dielectric anisotropies to explore the impact of varying concentrations on their properties.We report the sign-reversal of△εin both the nematic and smectic A phases of these mixed liquid crystals,alongside a dual-frequency behaviour across a broad temperature spectrum.Our research further quantifies the influence of mixture ratios under various temperatures and electric field frequencies.This exploration may pave the way for the discovery of new physical phenomena.

STUDY ON MAGNETIC FIELD-INDUCED 0RIENTATI0N OF A CHIRAL SIDE-CHAIN LIQUID CRYSTAL POLYACRYLATE USING INFRARED DICHROISM

Magnetic field-induced orientation of a chiral side chain liquid crystalline polyacrylate(P-11) was studied by using IR dichroism. For the investigated P-11, it has been shown thatthe magnetic alignment takes place over the entire temperature range between its meltingpoint and clearing point and the orientation level is strongly temperature-dependent, thedevelopment with time of the magnetic orieatation follows an exponeotial-type relation,and the smectic phase state influences the thermal relaxation process in the absence of themagnetic field.

Synthesis and mesomorphic properties of Schiff base esters possessing terminal chloro substituent

A homologous series of Schiff base esters,4-chlorobenzylidene-4'-n-alkanoyloxyanilines,containing even number of carbons at the end groups of the molecules(C_(n-1)H_(2n-1)COO-,n=4,6,8,10,12,14,16) were synthesized.The mesomorphic properties were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry(DSC) and polarizing optical microscopy(POM).It was found that the end groups of the molecules had an effect on the mesomorphic properties.n-Butanoyloxy was found non-mesogenic,whilst n-hexanoyloxy exhibited monotropic smectic phase.The higher members in this homologous series were enantiotropic smectogens.

Phase Transition Investigations of a Series of Aromatic Naphthalene-2-yl-4-(Alkoxy) Benzoate and Naphthalene-1-yl-4-(Alkoxy) Benzoate Materials

The mesogenic properties of a homologous series of aromatic ester materials are investigated. Single tail and double tail materials were synthesized to compare with other series we prepared and published earlier. The phase sequences and transition temperatures were obtained by polarized light microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. Only the single tail materials with the ester attached to naphthalene at position 2 display mesogenicbehavior. Two materials (ZH 29 & ZH 32) possess a monophasic nematic phase and another two materials (ZH 14 & ZH 35) display biphasic nematic and smectic (A) phases.

Local high-density distributions of phospholipids induced by the nucleation and growth of smectic liquid crystals at the interface

Amphiphilic molecules adsorbed at the interface could control the orientation of liquid crystals(LCs)while LCs in turn could influence the distributions of amphiphilic molecules.The studies on the interactions between liquid crystals and amphiphilic molecules at the interface are important for the development of molecular sensors.In this paper,we demonstrate that the development of smectic LC ordering from isotropic at the LC/water interface could induce local high-density distributions of amphiphilic phospholipids.Mixtures of liquid crystals and phospholipids in chloroform are first emulsified in water.By fluorescently labeling the phospholipids adsorbed at the interface,their distributions are visualized under fluorescent confocal microscope.Interestingly,local high-density distributions of phospholipids showing a high fluorescent intensity are observed on the surface of LC droplets.Investigations on the correlation between phospholipid density,surface tension and smectic LC ordering suggest that when domains of smectic LC layers nucleate and grow from isotropic at the LC/water interface as chloroform slowly evaporates at room temperature,phospholipids transition from liquid-expanded to liquid-condensed phases in response to the smectic ordering,which induces a higher surface tension at the interface.The results will provide an important insight into the interactions between liquid crystals and amphiphilic molecules at the interface.

Mesomorphic behavior of new benzothiazole liquid crystals having Schiff base linker and terminal methyl group

A homologous series of heterocycles,6-methyl-2-（4-alkoxybenzylidenamino）benzothiazoles,were synthesized and characterized using FT-IR,^1H and ^（13）C NMR and mass spectrometric analysis.Enantiotropic nematic phase was observed for shorter members.Smectic A phase only emerged from octyloxy derivative onwards.The terminal methyl group at the benzothiazole fragment and the Schiff base linkage influenced the mesomorphic behavior of the present series.

ELECTROTHERMOOPTIC EFFECT OF SMECTIC A LIQUID CRYSTALS

The elec rooptic effect of a smectic A liquid crystal has been investigated by many authors. When an appropriate electric field is applied to the smectic A liquid crystal, the transparent texture is transformed to the scattering texture through the deformation

Synthesis and mesomorphic evaluation of new calamitic liquid crystals containing benzothiazole core

The design and synthesis of new calamitic benzothiazole-based liquid crystals,2-[4-（4-alkyloxybenzoyloxy）-phenyl]ben-zothiazoles are presented.The target compound was characterized using spectroscopic techniques,such as FT-IR,NMR（~1H and ^（13）C）,microanalysis and EI-MS.The liquid crystalline behaviours of these compounds were thoroughly examined by differential scanning calorimetry and polarizing optical microscope techniques.These materials exhibited enantiotropic nematic phase with high thermal stability（168℃）.Smectic A phase starts to emerge as monotropic（metastable） phase from C10 member and changes into enantiotropic（stable） phase from C12 and persists up to C16 members.

Monotropic smectic A to double layer smectic C transition of biphenyl containing liquid crystal acetylene

5-[（4＇-Heptoxy-4-biphenylyl）carbonyloxy]-1-pentyne（A-3,7） was synthesized and the phase structures and transitions were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry（DSC）,wide angle X-ray diffraction（WAXD）,polarized light microscopy（PLM） and the molecular packing in the crystal and liquid crystalline phases were simulated by molecular dynamic simulation.The results showed that the sample formed thermodynamically metastable SmA and SmC_2 phases before crystallized during cooling and the crystal phase directly transformed into isotropic phase during heating.

Surface Anchoring Stabilized High Strength Disclinations in Smectic C Phase of a Schiff-base Liquid Crystal

The observation of disclination cores of high strength S=-2, -3, -4, -5, -6, -7, -8 in a smectic C phase of Schiff-base type liquid crystal (LC) is reported. The results of polarizing optical microscope (POM), dif-ferential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) prove that the sample exhibits smectic C phase. It is suggested that the formation of the high strength disclination is mainly ascribed to the stronger anchoring of LC molecules on the substrate due to the formation of hydrogen bonds between the pendent hydroxyl of the LC molecule and the substrate.

Dielectric study of three homologous Schiff base ferroelectric liquid crystals with the variations of temperature and frequency

In this investigation,the dielectric behaviors of three ferroelectric liquid crystals(FLCs)belonging to a homologous series have been revealed in the frequency range of 10 Hz-10 MHz.FLCs used in this study are three-ring calamitic LCs,namely(S)-4-(((4-(octan-2-yloxy)phenyl)imino)methyl)phenyl 4-(n-octyloxy)benzoate,(S)-4-(((4-(octan-2-yloxy)phenyl)imino)methyl)phenyl 4-(n-decyloxy)benzoate and(S)-4-(((4-(octan-2-yloxy)phenyl)imino)methyl)phenyl 4-(n-undecyloxy)benzoate.The polarizing optical microscopic and differential scanning calorimetric results confirm that these compounds,synthesized as per the known synthetic steps,show not only a ferroelectrically switchable chiral smectic C(SmC*)phase over a wide thermal range,but also other mesophases such as blue phase-I/II(BP-I/II),chiral nematic(N*)and unknown smectic(SmX)phases.Several essential dielectric parameters of the FLC phase have been measured at different temperatures.The relative permittivity has been measured with the variations of temperature and frequency.Besides,the dielectric loss and tanδhave been measured.Different dielectric relaxations have been calculated and explained at the molecular level.The systematic measurements revealed a strong anomaly,and crossover of relative permittivity values for the FLCs has been determined at selective frequencies between 1 kHz and 20 kHz.Strong dielectric anomaly/fall for the response function infers the involvement of collective response of dipolar assembly confined to ferroelectric Weiss domains.

近晶相液晶超结构的多元外场调控

利用液晶的自组装和刺激响应特性,实现近晶相液晶多层级超结构的灵活构筑、动态操控和多功能应用对于激发更多前沿的创新性功能器件并推动液晶超结构的实用化进程具有重要意义。本文从近晶相液晶超结构的生长制备、多元外界刺激对缺陷结构的调制方法和动态调控规律等方面进行系统研究。首先,探究了图案化取向场和旋涂条件对近晶相液晶拓扑超结构的形态与大小的操控;然后,验证了焦锥畴超结构的微透镜成像功能,并通过材料复合优化和引入聚合物稳定策略,实现了正方焦锥畴阵列在35℃下(向列相)的电刺激动态调控性能;最后,研究了手性、光场和热场对双相态液晶超结构带来的多维度调控。本研究充分利用光取向场、聚合物网络、电场、手性、光场等多元外场刺激,实现了对近晶相液晶多层级超结构的多维度调控。

Crystals Array via Oriented Nucleation and Growth Induced by Smectic E Mesophase of C7-T-BTBT

Long-range order crystalline thin films of organic semiconductors have attracted wide attention owing to their high charge carrier mobility.However,uncontrolled crystal nucleation and growth during the thin film drying process cause the formation of grain boundaries,thereby limiting the long-range order.Herein,we achieved the oriented nucleation and growth of organic semiconductors by off-centre spin-coating at the temperature of the smectic E(SmE)liquid crystal mesophase,and then followed by Ostwald ripening during solvent vapour annealing.The thin film of 2-(5-heptylthiophen-2-yl)[1]benzothieno[3,2-b][1]benzothiophne(C7-T-BTBT)blended with 40%(mass fraction)poly(methyl methacrylate)(PMMA)was prepared by off-centrespin-coating at SmE mesophase(170°C),followed by solvent vapour annealing in chloroform for 24 h(chloroform is a good solvent for C7-T-BTBT and PMMA).The C7-T-BTBT molecules grew to rod-like crystals,which were mostly arranged parallel to each other.The crystal growth was perfect and resulted in a single crystal.The average length of the crystals was approximately 87µm.Moreover,the highest charge carrier mobility is 1.62 cm^(2)·V^(−1)·s^(−1) as against that of the film prepared at 25°C(0.06 cm^(2)·V^(−1)·s^(−1)).