A model of crack based on dislocations in smectic A liquid crystals

A plastic crack model for smectic A liquid crystals under longitudinal shear is suggested. The solution of the screw dislocation in smectic A is the key to the correct result that we obtained by overcoming a longstanding puzzle. We further use the dislocation pile-up principle and the singular integral equation method to construct the solution of the crack in the phase. From the solution, we can determine the size of the plastic zone at the crack tip and the crack tip opening （tearing） displacement, which are the parameters relevant to the local stability/instability of materials. Our results may be useful for developing soft-matter mechanics.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Dielectric and Spontaneous Polarization Studies of a Ferroelectric Chiral Smectic Liquid Crystal

Dielectric relaxation and spontaneous polarization studies have been carried out in a low molar mass organosiloxane liquid crystal, TSi10PPBN4 which displays a wide temperature range of de Vries Smectic A* and chiral Smectic C* phases. The temperature variation of the permittivity and dielectric loss studied are found to have anomalous variations in the vicinity of the phase transitions. The frequency variation of permittivity and dielectric loss are also studied in the de Vries Smectic A* and Smectic C* phases. The relaxation frequency, fR is found to decrease with decreasing temperature. Temperature variation of fR is found to follow an Arrhenius shift from which the activation energy is estimated. The thermal variation of the spontaneous polarization, Ps is measured using the polarization reversal technique in the Smectic C* phase. Ps increases initially, reaches a peak value and then drops drastically in the vicinity of the SmC*-SmA*de Vries phase transition.

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.

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.

Depinning Dynamics of Fluid Monolayer on a Quenched Substrate

Langevin simulations are preformed on the depinning dynamics of fluid monolayer on a quenched substrate. With increase in the strength of the substrate, we find for the first time a crossover from elastic crystal to smectic flows as well as a crossover from smectic to plastic flows above the depinning. A power-law scaling relationship can be derived between the drift velocity and the driving force for both the elastic crystal and smectic flows, but fails to be obtained for the plastic flow. The power-law exponents are found to be no larger than 1 for the elastic crystal flow and larger than 1 for the smeetic flow. The critical driving force and the averaged intensity of Bragg peaks remain invariant basically in the regime of smectic flow. A sudden increase in the critical driving force is observed within the crossover from the smeetic to plastic flows, and the averaged intensity of Bragg peaks shows sudden decreases within the crossovers both from the elastic crystal to smectic flows and from the smectic to plastic flows. The results are helpful for understanding the slip dynamics of fluids on a molecular level.

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.

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.

STUDY OF CHIRAL SIDE CHAIN LIQUID CRYSTALLINE POLYMERS

Five kinds of side chain liquid crystalline polymers with a chiral component in the pendant group were synthesized and characterized by GPC, polarizing microscopy, DSC, X-ray diffraction ano Dielectric Relaxation Spectroscopy. The liquid crystalline behaviour of the polymers is affected by the length of flexible spacer, which links the mesogenic side chain to the polymer backbone and mesogenic moiety. The characteristic of smectic phase is observed for all the polymers.

STUDY ON CHIRAL LIQUID CRYSTALLINE POLYMERS WITH BIPHENYLENE AND AZOBENZENE AS THE MESOGENS

Chiral liquid crystalline polymers containing biphenylene and azobenzene as the mesogensand S(-)-2-methyl-1-butanol as the chiral end group were synthesized and characterized by DSC,POM and X-ray diffraction. These polymers show crystalline or glassy liquid crystalline phase atroom temperature. Most polymers show smectic A or highly ordered smectic phases abovemelting temperature.

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.

Synthesis and Characterization of Mesomorphic Behaviour of New Mesogenic Compounds Incorporating Cholesteryl Ester Moiety Connected to 1,3,4-Oxadiazole

The synthesis and characterization of new series of liquid crystals containing cholesteryl moiety connected via an ester linkage to 1,3,4-oxadiazole are reported. The molecular structures of the intermediates and target compounds were confirmed by elemental analyses and FT-IR, ^1H NMR and mass spectrometry. The mesomorphic behaviors were investigated by polarizing optical microscopy （POM） attached with hot stage and differential scanning calorimetry （DSC）. Enantiotropic smectic 1, smectic A, blue phase and cholesteric mesophases are exhibited by the newly synthesized compounds.

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.

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.