Electro-optical properties cholesteric liquid of polymer stabilized crystal film＊

Liquid crystals （LCs） and polymers are extensively used in various electro-optical applications. In this paper, normal mode polymer stabilized cholesteric LC film is prepared and studied. The effects of chiral dopant and monomer concentrations on the electro-optical properties, such as contrast ratio, driving voltage, hysteresis width and response time, are investigated. The reasons of electro-optical properties influenced by the concentrations of the materials are discussed. Through the proper material recipe, the electro-optical properties of polymer stabilized cholesteric LC film can be optimized.

Fixation for the helical structure of a glassy cholesteric liquid crystal reflective film

The planar texture of glassy cholesteric siloxane cyclic side-chain liquid crystals was fixed by quenching initially. Then the polymer network formed by the optically active polymerizable monomers imposed additional constraints on the motion of chain segments of the glassy liquid crystal and then further stabilized the molecule arrangement. A cholesteric liquid crystal film with stable optical properties was developed by this method.

Research progress of cholesteric liquid crystals with broadband reflection characteristics in application of intelligent optical modulation materials

Cholesteric liquid crystals（CLCs） have recently sparked an enormous amount of interest in the development of soft matter materials due to their unique ability to self-organize into a helical supra-molecular architecture and their excellent selective reflection of light based on the Bragg relationship.Nowadays,by the virtue of building the self-organized nanostructures with pitch gradient or non-uniform pitch distribution,extensive work has already been performed to obtain CLC films with a broad reflection band.Based on authors＇ many years＇ research experience,this critical review systematically summarizes the physical and optical background of the CLCs with broadband reflection characteristics,methods to obtain broadband reflection of CLCs,as well as the application in the field of intelligent optical modulation materials.Combined with the research status and the advantages in the field,the important basic and applied scientific problems in the research direction are also introduced.

CHOLESTERIC LIQUID CRYSTALLINE CHARACTER ON THE SURFACE OF CHITOSAN/POLYACRYLIC ACID COMPOSITES

The cholesteric liquid crystalline structure in chitosan/polyacrylic acid composite films was studied by surface techniques. A periodical lamellar-like structure was observed in the permanganic acid etched film surface by both scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), instead of the thumb-print texture which can be detected with polarized optical microscopy. It is suggested that the periodical lamellar-like structure is induced by the etching selectivity between cholesteric layers due to different molecular arrangement on the film surface. Four kinds of perpendicular disclinations, i.e. chi --> tau (-) + lambda (+), chi --> lambda (-) + tau (+), chi --> tau (-) + tau (+) and chi --> lambda (-) + lambda (+) were found in the composite films from SEM observations. The smallest periodicity of lamellar-like structure (equals to half pitch) is 20 similar to 40 nm measured with AFM.

KINETICSOF TRANSITION FROM ISOTROPIC TO CHOLESTERIC PHASE FOR A THERMOTROPIC CELLULOSE DERIVATIVE

The kinetics of mesophase formation of a thermotropic hydroxyethyl cellulose acetate from isotropic phase to cholesteric mesophase has been studied by means of depolarizing transmittance method. Avrami type analysis of the data gives an exponent n close to 1, which suggests the nucleation followed by rod-like growth. It means that the kinetic behavior of phase transition from isotropic to cholesteric mesophase is very similar to that of the mesophase formation from isotropic to nematic mesophase.

SYNTHESIS OF AZA-CROWN-ETHER CHOLESTERIC LIQUID CRYSTALS

Five aza-crown-ethers were synthesized and four of them shown to have cholesteric liquid crystalline properties. Their properties relevant to cholesteric liquid crystal were determined by DSC and the textures. The type of cholesteric mesomorphic azacrown ether have not been reported so far.

Tunable Optical Filters Based on Different Configurations with Cholesteric Liquid Crystals

Optical filters with different configurations based on cholesteric liquid crystals （CLCs） are designed. The central wavelength from CLCs can be tuned by the electric field or temperature. For the electric field tuning, the ITO is designed with circular patterns, which can make the tunable range 18 nm. For the temperature tuning, two-layer- CLC configurations are used. The experimental results indicate that a deepened or broadened bandgap from the CLC can be achieved by different handedness or concentrations of chiral dopants. The spectrum study is carried out.

Thermo-Chromic Response of Polymer Stabilized Cholesteric Liquid Crystal for Thermal Imaging

Cholesteric liquid crystal(Ch-LC)exhibits many remarkable optical properties due to formation of a macroscopic helical structure.A low amount of monomer(5wt.%)is dispersed into cholesteric liquid crystal and get polymerized under UV radiations to form polymer stabilized cholesteric texture(PSCT).The thermo-chromic response made this device suitable for the developing applications in thermal imaging.Temperature based measurements of PSCT exploits the key property of some polymer stabilized cholesteric liquid crystals(PSCLC)to reflect definite colors at specific temperatures.The selective color of PSCT texture shifts with raise in temperature from 30oC to 85oC,which can be utilized in thermal imaging applications.

Effect of Ferroelectric Nanopowder on Electrical and Acoustical Properties of Cholesteric Liquid Crystal

The composite materials based on nanopowder dispersed liquid crystals are important both from fundamental research and device applications due to their unique properties such as improvement in various properties like electrical,optical,thermal,energy storage and spontaneous polarization etc.The proper selection of nanoparticle and its size which to be dispersed in particular liquid crystals is very important for a particular application.In the present study,a ferroelectric nanopowder of Barium Titanate(BaTiO3)was dispersed in cholesteric liquid crystal and the same was confirmed by Fourier Transform Infrared(FTIR)Spectroscopy.The various acoustical properties like ultrasonic velocity,density,Adiabatic Compressibility,Rao Constant,Wada Constant and Acoustic Impedance were investigated by ultrasonic interferometer at room temperature at fixed frequency.The dielectric constant was determined by Precision Impedance Analyzer.In addition to these investigations,particle size and surface area were also measured.Our investigation shows enhanced in dielectric and acoustical properties which may be useful for device applications extensively in microelectronics,low cost-photovoltaic devices,and custom-shaped containers possibly applied as a coating.

Synthesis and Characterization of Cholesteric Thermotropic Liquid Crystalline Polyesters Based on Isosorbide

BACKGROUND: Generally main chain cholesteric thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers are prepared form chiral diacid or diol monomer. But these monomers are costly. Isosorbide is chiral cycloaliphatic diol accessible from renewable resources in the form of pure enantiomers. Thus it is used to synthesize main chain cholesteric thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers. Incorporation of phenyl hydroquinone into the backbone of the main chain frustrates chain packing, thus lowering the crystallinity and depressing the melting point below the degradation temperature, also improves the solubility due to disruption of packing and maintains the mechanical and thermal performance. RESULTS: Optical microscopy study reveals that more than 50% of isosorbide content with phenyl hydroquinone and terephthalic acid showed “yellow iridescent oily streaks” with a background of mosaic/marble texture. These are the typical textures of cholesteric liquid crystalline phase. Copolyesters based on phenyl hydroquinone, isosorbide and terephthalic acid are soluble in aprotic solvents like N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAC), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP). Solubility increases with the content of isosorbide percent. Thermal stability of all copolyesters was more than 300?C on the basis of 10% wt loss. CONCLUSIONS: It was found that main chain cholesteric thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers can be prepared form chiral cycloaliphatic diol such as isosorbide. Main chain cholesteric thermotropic liquid crystalline polyesters are prepared from phenyl hydroquinone, isosorbide and terephthalic acid showed thermal stability more than 300?C. Main chain cholesteric thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers are soluble in aprotic solvents like DMAC, DMSO, DMF and NMP.

Controllable CPL response driven by achiral UV-photosensitive dichroic dye through cholesteric liquid crystals

Versatile stimuli-responsive circularly polarized luminescent(CPL)materials have potential applications in information storage,security encryption,and intelligent displays.In this study,the Z/E isomerization of ultraviolet(UV)-photosensitive achiralα-cyanostilbene derivative was used as an achiral dichroic dye(Switch)to drive the controllable CPL-active response in cholesteric liquid crystals(CLCs).Under irradiation by 365 nm UV light,the resulting CLCs-Z-Switch underwent a Z-to-E configuration isomerization as CLCs-E-Switch,accompanied by a decrease in its dichroic order parameter(SFvalue)from 0.15to 0.07.Although the quantum yield(QY)of CLCs-E-Switch increased from 8.1%(CLCs-Z-Switch)to 16.8%,the corresponding glumvalues of CPL emission decreased from+0.55/-0.57 to+0.37/-0.39 due to a decrease in the order of helical arrangement of E-Switch in E7 media.This study enables photosensitive CLCs-Switch to be applied for optical information storage devices.

Dynamic Control of Multiple Optical Patterns of Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Microdroplets by Light-Driven Molecular Motors

The key to high-level encryption and anti-counterfeiting techniques is the storage of multiple levels of distinct information that can be individually and precisely addressed by certain stimuli.This continues to be a formidable challenge as the concealed images or codes must be read with fast response and high resolution without cross-talk to the first layer of information.Here,we report a non-fluorescencebased strategy to establish responsive encryption labels taking advantage of solely tuning multiple optical patterns of cholesteric liquid crystal(CLC)microdroplets doped with light-driven molecular motors.The photo-triggered unidirectional rotation of the motor induced not only changes in the helical twist power value but the opposite helical orientation of the superstructure in CLCs as well,resulting in changes in both the structural color and the selective reflection of circularly polar light.The designed labels,which featured highly selective addressability of dual-level distinct information,good reversibility,and viewing angle-independence,were applied to build devices for daily practical use,demonstrating great potential in anti-counterfeiting technology and provide a versatile platform for enhanced data protection and encryption of authentic information.

A TEMPERATURE AND pH DOUBLE SENSITIVE CHOLESTERIC POLYMER FILM FROM A PHOTOPOLYMERIZABLE CHIRAL HYDROGEN-BONDED ASSEMBLY

In this study, a novel H-bonded cholesteric polymer film responding to temperature and pH by changing the reflection color was fabricated. The H-bonded cholesteric polymer film was achieved by UV-photopolymerizing a cholesteric liquid crystal （Ch-LC） monomers mixture containing a photopolymerizable chiral H-bonded assembly （PCHA）. The cholesteric polymer film based on PCHA can be thermally switched to reflect red color from the initial green/yellow color as temperature is increased, which is due to a change in helical pitch induced by the weakening of H-bonded interaction in the polymer film. Additionally, the selective reflection band （SRB） of the cholesteric polymer film in solution with pH 〉 7 showed an obvious red shift with increasing pH values. While the SRB of the cholesteric polymer film in solutions with pH = 7 and pH 〈 7 hardly changed. This pH sensitivity in solutions with pH 〉 7 could be explained by the breakage of H-bonds in the cholesteric polymer film and the structure changes induced by --OH- and --K＋ ions in the alkaline solution. In contrast, it couldn＇t happen in the neutral and acidic solutions. The cholesteric polymer film in this study can be used as optical/photonic papers, optical sensors and LCs displays, etc.

Visual measurement of the microscopic temperature of porous graphene based on cholesteric liquid crystal microcapsules

Measuring the microscopic temperature of graphene is challenging.We used cholesteric liquid crystal microcapsules(CLCMs)as temperature sensors to detect the local temperature of three-dimensional porous graphene through quantitative visualization.Based on a CLCM(~20μm in size),we determined the temperature variation in a small area with an accuracy of 0.1℃.By analyzing the color changes between two CLCMs,we demonstrated the temperature changes dynamically in a region with a diameter of approximately 110μm.Furthermore,by comparing the color evolution among the three CLCMs,we visualized the anisotropic thermal properties in the micro-zone.This convenient and low-cost temperature measurement method is expected to further improve graphene-based devices.

Lasing emission of dye-doped cholesteric liquid crystal microdroplet wrapped by polyglycerol in hollow glass microsphere

In this Letter,a dye-doped cholesteric liquid crystal(DDCLC)-filled hollow glass microsphere is demonstrated to be a resonator with good temperature response.A diglycerol layer is used to wrap the DDCLCs microdroplet to keep it steady and control its orientation.The whispering gallery mode(WGM)lasing and photonic band gap(PBG)lasing caused by two different mechanisms were obtained under the pump of a pulsed laser,and the temperature response of these two kinds of lasing was studied.For the liquid crystal and chiral material used in this Letter,both the WGM lasing and the PBG lasing have a blue shift in wavelength with increasing temperature.

Dynamic coloration of polymerized cholesteric liquid crystal networks by infiltrating organic compounds

We demonstrate the dynamic coloration of polymerized cholesteric liquid crystal(PCLC)networks templated by the“wash-out/refill”method in the presence of organic compounds.The reflection colors were modulated by two key approaches,that is,the injection of mutually soluble organic fluids into a microfluidic channel and the diffusion of volatile organic compounds(VOCs).The reversible tuning of reflected colors with central wavelengths between~450 nm and~600 nm was achieved by alternative injection of nematic liquid crystal E7(n_(av)=1.64)and benzyl alcohol(n=1.54)using syringe pumps.The fascinating iridescence with reflection centers from~620 nm to~410 nm was presented from the volatilization and diffusion of alcohol as a model VOC.Additionally,the flow velocity of fluid and the diffusion time were adjusted to explore the underlying mechanism for the dynamic coloration of cholesteric networks.This work is expected to extend the study of PCLCs as a dynamically tunable optofluidic reflector,visually readable sensor,or compact anticounterfeit label in response to organic compounds.

Tunable Photonic Band Gaps In Photonic Crystal Fibers Filled With a Cholesteric Liquid Crystal

A photonic crystal fiber has been filled with a cholesteric liquid crystal. A temperature sensitive photonic band gap effect was observed, which was especially pronounced around the liquid crystal phase transition temperature.

Visible Light and Temperature Regulated Reflection Colors in Self-supporting Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Physical Gels

Photo-responsive cholesteric liquid crystals(CLCs)have attracted much attention in recent years due to their wide applications in filters,tun able optical lasers,dyn amic display devices,etc.However,UV light is usually used as the exter nal stimulus source,which is not envir on ment-frie ndly enough.On the other hand,the mecha nical properties of CLCs are not strong eno ugh for these practical applications.Therefore,it still remains a challenge to endow the CLCs with visible light response and high mechanical properties at the same time.Herein,an axially chiral tetra-fluorinated binaphthyl azobenzene gelator(S-4F-AG)is synthesized.Upon 550 and 450 nm light irradiations,S-4F-AG exhibits excellent photo-switchable behaviors.Notably,the maximum con tent of c/s-isomer and its half-life are as high as 35%and 89 h in acet on itrile,respectively.A self-supporting CLC physical gel with a storage modulus around 104 Pa can be obtained when 3wt%S-4F-AG and 12wt%binaphthyl azobenzene derivative(dopant 2)are co-doped into a nematic LC host P0616A.This CLC physical gel exhibits a temperature-driven blue,green,and red reflection colors reversibly.Importantly,such three primary RGB colors can also be realized by adjusting the exposure time of 550 nm green light.This work lays a solid foundation for the applications ranging from information storage to high-tech anticounterfeit.

Electrically tunable helicity of cholesteric heliconical superstructure [Invited]

The dynamic manipulation of the helicity in a cholesteric helical superstructure could enable precise control over its physical and chemical properties, thus opening numerous possibilities for exploring multifunctional devices.When cholesteric material satisfies the sufficiently small bending elastic effect, an electrically induced deformation named the cholesteric heliconical superstructure is formed. Through theoretical and numerical analysis, we systematically studied the tunable helicity of the heliconical superstructure, including the evolution of the corresponding oblique angle and pitch length. To further confirm the optical properties, Berreman’s 4 × 4 matrix method was employed to numerically analyze the corresponding structure reflection under the dual stimuli of chirality and electric field.

Cosmosil Cholester-HPLC法分离番茄红素异构体的研究

番茄红素是一种由11个共轭双键和2个非共轭双键组成的直链型多不饱和烯烃。由于分子中双键数目较多,番茄红素有很多空间异构体。对COSMOSIL Cholester-HPLC法分离番茄红素异构体的方法进行了研究并优化了分离条件。最终确定的试验条件如下:流动相为V(四氢呋喃)∶V(乙腈)=10∶90,进样量20μL,流速1 mL/min,检测波长472 nm。此试验条件下进行的重复性试验表明,该方法分离效果比较理想,重复性良好。