Synthesis, properties and photopolymerization of liquid crystalline dioxetanes

The synthesis and photopolymerization of various liquid crystalline dioxetanes is described. The effects of the spacer length, structure of the mesogenic group and oxetane group on the liquid crystalline properties, polymerization behaviour and optical properties (birefringence) of the oriented and crosslinked network formed in photo-polymerization are discussed. Thermally stable films with birefringence values up to 0.13 can be formed from these materials. The dioxetanes show significantly lower polymerization shrinkage than do structurally related diacrylates.     

The formation of a liquid crystalline main chain polymer by means of photopolymerization

A nematic liquid crystal material containing a mercapto group and an olefinic group was synthesized. Photopolymerization of this compound in the liquid crystalline state resulted in a liquid crystalline main chain polymer which showed a relatively high birefringence. Due to scattering, the material had a low transmission at ambient temperatures.     

Natural silks: archetypal supramolecular assembly of polymer fibres

Major ampullate silk produced by Nephila clavipes spiders exhibits a unique spectrum of desirable mechanical properties. There are useful lessons for materials scientists concerned with the interrelation of synthesis, processing, microstructural design and properties of polymer fibres; lessons learned to date are reviewed briefly. A significant feature of silk spinning in vivo is the evidence that a processable liquid crystalline phase assembles by non-covalent aggregation of polymer (fibroin) having a random coil conformation. It is shown in this paper that the form birefringence calculated for such a liquid crystalline phase is compatible with the measured birefringence of liquid crystalline silk secretion. Also, the linear rate of assembly is estimated for the rod-like aggregates. Comparison with the linear aggregation rate achieved by G-actin (in the well-characterized acrosomal process) confirms that the estimate for fibroin is credible.     

Morphology of polymer networks polymerized in highly ordered liquid crystalline phases

The morphology and optical properties of polymer stabilized liquid crystals formed in a more highly ordered low molecular weight liquid crystal solvent were studied. Tetrafunctional, mesogenic monomers (with and without flexible spacers) were polymerized in isotropic, nematic and smectic phases of the LC solvent (4′-octyl-4-cyanobiphenyl) and studied with scanning electron microscopy and cross-polarized light microscopy. The network morphology of the nematic and isotropic phase polymerizations showed strong similarities with the corresponding polymerizations in other solvents. Polymerization in the smectic phase, however, resulted in marked increases in network order and directionality. Most dramatically, even the polymer without flexible spacer formed a fibrous network of rodlike units, in contrast to the random, beaded texture formed by the same polymer in nematic or isotropic conditions. Correspondingly, a large increase in birefringence demonstrated significant polymer orientation and more effective orientational interaction with the liquid crystalline solvent.     

Asymmetrical phenyldiacetylenes liquid crystalline compounds with high birefringence and characteristics of selective reflection

A series of asymmetrically disubstituted liquid crystalline compounds with high birefringence based on phenyldiacetylenes was synthesised by coupling of intermediate molecules with a phenylacetylene fragment. The structures of the intermediates and resulting compounds were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared, ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance and Matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. Their liquid crystalline behaviour, including transition temperatures and phase sequences, was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry and polarising optical microscopy. As an important parameter, the birefringence was also measured, using polarising light interferometry. The results indicated that the compounds exhibited different liquid crystalline phases in the high temperature region, with high birefringence values. In addition, the selective reflection characteristics associated with birefringence under conditions which maintained the matrix nematic liquid crystal and the concentration of chiral dopant were studied.     

Liquid crystal properties of some substituted pyrazines

A number of biphenyl, terphenyl analogues and ethynes which contain a pyrazine ring have been made and their liquid crystal transition temperatures, together with examples of birefringence measurements, are reported. All the 2,5-disubstituted pyrazine systems are liquid crystalline showing high birefringence values for the biphenyl and terphenyl analogues, whereas the 1,5-disubstituted systems are not liquid crystalline. The pyrazine ethyne systems exhibit very high birefringence values. X-ray diffraction has been used to identify the liquid crystal phases of 2-n-nonyloxy-5-(4'-propylbiphenyl-4-yl)pyrazine.     

A practical liquid crystal mixture for IR applications

The goal of this work was to formulate an inexpensive room temperature nematic mixture having a large birefringence in the near-IR and good switching properties. It was accomplished by mixing two liquid crystalline compounds that are easy to synthesize with a commercial liquid crystal, E7. In view of the good electro-optical properties of the mixture and the simplicity of the syntheses, it is considered to be a very practical liquid crystal material for applications in the near-IR.     

A practical liquid crystal mixture for IR applications

The goal of this work was to formulate an inexpensive room temperature nematic mixture having a large birefringence in the near-IR and good switching properties. It was accomplished by mixing two liquid crystalline compounds that are easy to synthesize with a commercial liquid crystal, E7. In view of the good electro-optical properties of the mixture and the simplicity of the syntheses, it is considered to be a very practical liquid crystal material for applications in the near-IR.     

Crystallization and thermoreversible gelation of poly(butylene terephthalate)–epoxy mixtures

The thermoreversible gelation of solutions of poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) and a liquid diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A epoxy has been investigated. The morphology of the gels and the conditions under which they form have been characterized by optical microscopy, thermal analysis, and x-ray scattering. Gels were found to form under two different conditions and with different morphologies. Gels formed after a considerable delay when homogenous PBT-epoxy solutions were cooled to slightly below the dissolution temperature of crystalline PBT. These gels contained large, irregular PBT spherulites and smaller birefringent interspherulitic matter. The melting of these gels and the onset of macroscopic flow coincided with the melting of the interspherulitic matter, and occurred before the melting of the large spherulites. Thermoreversible gels formed very quickly when PBT-epoxy solutions were self-nucleated by heating a dispersion of crystalline PBT in epoxy slightly and briefly above the dissolution temperature and then cooling. These gels displayed only a weak background birefringence and were molten when the weak birefringence disappeared. In both cases, gelation occurred by the formation of a three-dimensional PBT network in the epoxy liquid, and the nodes of the network were crystalline PBT particles. $ 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis and properties of novel liquid crystalline materials with super high birefringence: styrene monomers bearing diacetylenes, naphthyl, and nitrogen-containing groups

Three new liquid crystal asymmetrical styrene monomers bearing diacetylenes, naphthyl, and nitrogen-containing groups were successfully synthesized from 2-(bromoethynyl)-6-(hexyloxy)naphthalene, 4-(4-bromo-2-vinylphenyl)-2-methylbut-3-yn-2-ol, and derivatives of 4-ethynylaniline. The molecular structures of these compounds were confirmed by FTIR, ¹H NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and mass spectrometry. The liquid crystalline properties of monomers were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry and polarized light microscopy. Results indicated that all the compounds exhibited the nematic phase in liquid crystal state and super high optical birefringence of 0.5-0.8. The change of terminal nitrogen-containing group affected the birefringence values in the order of -N(CH₃)₂<-NH₂<-NCS. Moreover, measurements using UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopy showed their good photoluminescence properties and high quantum efficiency of 0.4-1.0.     

Ferrocene-containing liquid crystals bearing a cholesteryl unit

The synthesis and characterization of new liquid crystalline compounds containing ferrocene azo or imino aromatic and cholesteryl units is reported. The purpose of this research was to combine the properties of metals (colour, electronic density, magnetism and polarizability) with those of chiral nematics (high birefringence and presence of physical colours) and correlate relationships between chemical structures and properties in the condensed state.     

Metal‐Ion‐Induced Switch of Liquid‐Crystalline Orientation of Metallomacrocycles

A new series of shape‐persistent imine‐bridged macrocycles were synthesized based on dynamic covalent chemistry. The macrocycles had an alternating sequence of dibenzothiophene and N,N′‐bis(salicylidene)‐ethylenediamine (salen) tethering branched alkyl chains. The macrocycles and tetranuclear metallomacrocycles bearing long and branched alkyl chains exhibited thermotropic columnar liquid‐crystalline phases over a wide temperature range and the metallomacrocycles greatly depended on the characteristics of the coordinated metal ions. The metal‐free macrocycle showed a liquid‐crystalline phase with a lamellar structure and poor birefringence. In sharp contrast, the macrocyclic Ni complex showed a columnar oblique liquid‐crystalline phase, whereas the Pd and Cu complexes showed columnar liquid‐crystalline phases with a lamellar structure. The macroscopic organization and thermal properties of the corresponding liquid‐crystalline metallomacrocycles were significantly dependent on the subtle structural differences among the planar macrocycles, which were revealed by single‐crystal X‐ray crystallographic analysis of the macrocycles with shorter alkyl chains.     

A concept for bifocal contact‐ or intraocular lenses: liquid single crystal hydrogels (“LSCH”)

The synthesis of liquid single crystal hydrogels (“LSCH”) in suitable molds offers an innovative concept to realize bifocal contact‐ or intraocular‐lenses. LSCH combine the properties required for applications as bifocal ophthalmic lenses: the soft and water‐containing hydrogel enables oxygen permeation and exhibits high birefringence due to the liquid crystalline phase structure built up by rigid rod‐like amphiphiles. Via a photo‐initiated crosslinking reaction of aqueous solutions of monomeric lyotropic liquid crystalline amphiphiles in the macroscopically ordered liquid crystalline state, we obtain optically uniaxially ordered and transparent LSCH. The orientation process and the phase structure of the anisotropic hydrogel is analyzed by deuterium NMR‐spectroscopy. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The application of the phase transition in nematic liquid crystals for the optical detection of volatile organic compounds

It is demonstrated that optical transducers can take advantage from the outstanding optical properties of nematic liquid crystals. The measurements point out that the birefringence and the phase transition of a liquid crystal can be exploited for the threshold sensing. For that purpose a device consisting of an orientated liquid crystalline film between two crossed polarizers was used. The nematic liquid crystal was also used as a sensitive coating material on an integrated optical Mach-Zehnder interferometer. The calibration experiments were carried out with volatile organic solvents and different calibration curves were measured for meta-xylene and para-xylene.     

Virtual isotropic‐nematic transitions in alkyl cyanobiphenyls

Pretransitional fluctuations in the isotropic phase of liquid crystalline and non‐liquid crystalline alkyl cyanobiphenyls have been investigated using light scattering and magnetic birefringence measurements. We find evidence for a virtual isotropic‐nematic phase transition in short‐chain alkyl cyanobiphenyls with no observable nematic phase. The measured temperature dependence of fluctuations is well‐described by mean‐field theory. Virtual phase transition temperatures extrapolated from separate light scattering and magnetic birefringence experiments are in good agreement. Landau–de Gennes model parameters for the compounds investigated are calculated from the experimental results.     

聚砜-聚芳酯嵌段共聚物的合成及其液晶性

本文以对笨二甲酰氯(TC)、对苯二酚(HQ)及不同分子量的端羟基聚砜低聚物(PSF)为原料,通过熔融缩聚法制得了一系列含有聚砜间隔段的三组分嵌段共聚酯。对产物用偏光显微镜下的双折射、搅动乳光和X-光衍射等手段研究了其液晶行为。分别以分子量为1.05×10~3和2.05×10~3的PSF为原料,所得其聚酯出现液晶性所需介晶单元的最小用量各为30和50mol％,若以双酚A(BPA)或双酚S(BPS)残基单元代替PSF基元计算,则为8.3和9.9mol％。     

Comparative experimental optical studies on 7.O5O.7 dimeric liquid crystal compound using theoretical models

In the present study, the optical properties of the 7.O5O.7 dimeric compound are reported. This dimeric compound exhibits typical smectic A to smectic F phase transition, and the main focus of our study is to observe the optical behaviour in SmA phase. In the dimeric compound, the two mesogens are connected by a linkage group or spacer. The presence of the linkage group and the terminal alkyl chains plays a vital role to change the behaviour of this compound as compared to the traditional monomeric compounds. Study of birefringence, refractive indices and normalised polarisation are essential to investigate the optical nature in liquid crystalline compounds. The optical study in our compound is carried out by using the thin prism experimental method with the help of He-Ne laser of wavelength 633 nm. Four-parameter model was used to obtained theoretically measured refractive indices and birefringence data. The theoretical results are then compared with the experimental results. Both the experimentally and theoretically calculated results are properly fitted in our dimeric compound.     

Anisotropic networks, elastomers and gels

Anisotropic networks, elastomers and gels exhibit piezoelectric, pyroelectric, ferroelectric and NLO properties of potential interest for use communication and processing technologies. The formation, properties and applications of such anisotropic, mainly liquid crystalline, networks are described. If some of the molecules in a liquid mixture contain at least two reactive groups which can be either photochemically or thermally polymerized, then crosslinked, anisotropic networks, elastomers and gels can be produced. Solid macroscopically aligned elastomers or networks can be formed as required beforehand or simultaneously by orientation of the sample. Anisotropic gels consist of a solid anisotropic network and non-covalently bonded, but strongly oriented domains of low molar mass liquid crystals. Anisotropic networks, elastomers preformed amorphous or liquid crystalline polymers incorporating additional reactive groups, which can be macroscopically oriented in the additional crosslinking reactions. Reversible networks, elastomers and gels can be prepared either non-covalently or covalently by thermally side group polymers and low molar mass molecules, liquid crystalline properties in the pure state. in many electro-optic devices for optical and gels can be prepared from liquid crystalline state and then fixed by reversible linkages between, for example, neither of which necessarily exhibit     

Higher order structural analysis of stereocomplex‐type poly(lactic acid) melt‐spun fibers

The higher order structure of stereocomplex‐type poly(lactic acid) melt‐spun fibers of an equimolar blend of poly(L ‐lactic acid) and poly(D ‐lactic acid) was analyzed with wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD) and birefringence measurements. Two different crystalline structures were observed in the fibers: α‐form homocrystals and stereocomplex crystals. The weight fractions of the two crystals were estimated with the WAXD integrated intensity data. The crystalline orientation factors were obtained from the WAXD measurements. Well‐oriented homocrystals formed during a drawing process at the crystallization temperature of the homocrystal. Drawing above this temperature caused the stereocomplex crystal to be formed. The crystalline orientation tended to be lower with increasing drawing temperatures. Through the combination of the intrinsic birefringence and the fractions of the α‐form homocrystals and stereocomplex crystals, the birefringence of the amorphous phase was evaluated. The amorphous birefringence stayed positive and decreased with increasing drawing temperature. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 218–228, 2007     

The effect of natural rubber crosslink density on real time birefringence,true stress and true strain behavior

A newly developed real time spectral birefringence technique was implemented to follow the coupled relationships between birefringence, true stress and true strain behavior of varying crosslink density natural rubber vulcanizates at room temperature. It was shown that the stress optical law is valid even at early stages of crystallization during stretching and there exists a critical birefringence beyond which the metastable “near perfect” oriented and highly distorted crystalline regions form and upon retraction this crystalline order disappears at the same critical birefringence level. These crystalline regions exhibit nematic order with significant axial registry distortions at early stages of the formation. They are suggested to form at or near the juncture points of the chemical network formed by crosslinks, and physical network by chain entanglements where the orientability of the chains is the most efficient.