New lyotropic nematics of double chain surfactants

The phase behaviour of N,N-dialkyl-N,N-dimethyl ammonium bromide double chain surfactants was investigated by polarization microscopy, ²H-N.M.R. spectroscopy, and surface and magnetic field alignment in order to find new lyotropic nematic systems. Decanol was utilized to cause a rod to disc transition in the nematic phase. The sign of the anisotropy of the diamagnetic susceptibility Δx was inverted by substituting the bromide counter-ion with the benzenesulphonate ion. The phase behaviour was modified within a wide range by varying the length of the two alkyl chains. Using these tools we were able to prepare any of the four kinds of uniaxial nematic phases: rod-like and disc-like aggregates with both negative and positive anisotropy of the diamagnetic susceptibility. Several new binary, ternary and quaternary systems of these double chain surfactants and some experiments are described to classify the different nematic phases.     

The effect of olefinic terminal chains on the mesomorphic properties of 4,4′-disubstituted diphenyldiacetylenes

New diphenyldiacetylenes of the type with A, B = H and/or F; m = 0, 1; n = 1–4; and X = C _n H_2n+1, F, CF₃ or CN were synthesized and their mesomorphic properties determined by hot stage polarizing microscopy and DSC. When m = 0, all of these compounds showed only a nematic phase except when X = CF₃ when both nematic and smectic A phases were seen. Both clearing and melting temperatures were higher than those reported for substitution with the corresponding alkyl chains but the much larger increase in clearing temperatures produced considerably wider nematic phases. Eutectic mixtures of a few of these olefins yielded nematic materials also having much wider temperature ranges and higher clearing temperatures than the eutectic mixtures of the alkyl compounds, while retaining their high birefringence and low viscosities. Such materials are of interest for beam-steering devices. Four of the diacetylenes with m = 1 (A, B = H) were also prepared (X = C₆H₁₃, F, n= 2, 3). When X was C₆H₁₃ (n=2), the nematic range was smaller in the 2- than in the 1-olefin but wider than in the alkyl series. When X=F, either no nematic phase or a monotropic one was observed, whereas the 1-olefins gave a much wider nematic phase. Both transition temperatures were lower than those for the corresponding 1-olefin and alkyl analogues. The compound with X=C₆H₁₃ and n=2 had a melting temperature below room temperature.     

Comparison of structures and properties of lyotropic cholesteric phases induced by center and axial chiral compounds

We studied the phase chirality in disklike lyotropic cholesteric (Ch_D) phases which were obtained by adding center and axial chiral dopants to achiral lyotropic nematic (N_D) host phases. In a lyotropic nematic matrix of the N_D phase in the hexadecyldimethylethyl-ammonium bromide/water/n-decanol ternary system, a Ch_D phase was induced by adding center chiral sterols (cholesterol, prednisolon, taurocholic acid) and the axial optically active compound R(−)-1,1′- binaphthalene-2,2′-diyl-hydrogen phosphate (BDP). The helical twisting power (HTP) of BDP is generally lower than the HTP of inducing substances with center chirality, such as cholesterol, prednisolon, etc. At constant composition of the N_D phase, the helix lengths were determined from the ordered fingerprint texture, the so-called “spaghetti-like texture” seen in polarizing microscopy. The reciprocal helix lengths change linearly with the BDP concentration. The properties of the Ch_D phase (textures, helix lengths, micelle parameters) induced by the chiral compounds and changed by the composition of host phases give information on the mechanism of chirality transfer from the molecular level to that of the micellar aggregates and, eventually, to the liquid-crystalline superstructure. The structure in the Ch_D phase was described in the form of micelle parameters. For helix formation a minimum concentration of the chiral compounds is necessary. During the helix formation the number of micelles per helix length changes as a function of the concentration of the center and axial chiral molecules. The first step during the formation of the Ch_D phase is the solubilization of dopants into the micelles. Interaction between the optically active molecules then leads to the formation of hydrogen bridges between adjacent optically active molecules in the helical stack. Received: 20 December 1999/Accepted: 22 May 2000     

Creation of nematic and reentrant nematic phases in bi- and multi-component smectic mixtures

Abstract

Experimental results referring to the transformation of smectic phases, mainly smectic A, into nematic and reentrant nematic phases are reviewed. A new explanation of some experimental results is proposed. Factors which are responsible for the depression of smectic phases in mixtures of polar mesogens are discussed and the possibility of forming mixtures with a broad temperature range of nematic phase from smectic compounds, which can be useful for liquid crystal displays (LCDs), is shown. A nematic gap observed in some cases between monolayer (S_A1) or monolayer and partially bilayer (S_Ad) smectics results from the differences in the organization of the molecules in the smectic layers. It is concluded that polar phase from smectic A₁ phases can be divided into two groups: (a) the first one is characteristic for compounds with the -NCS, -F, -CI, -I or ?COC _m H_{2m + 1} terminal group. The spacing of the smectic layer slowly expands with the increase in alkyl chain length and the structure of the smectic A₁ phase slowly changes to be more like the smectic A_d phase (d/1 > 1). It is proposed that such a smectic is called an enhanced monolayer smectic (S_A1e (b) the second one is typical for compounds with the -CN terminal group. This kind of smectic A₁ phase is rapidly transformed into the smectic A_d phase with increasing alkyl chain length. These latter monolayer mesogens easily form the reentrant nematic phase when they are mixed with other polar smectic mesogens.     

Influence of glycerol on the formation of lyotropic mesophases —microscopic texture observations for determining preliminary phase diagrams of binary K-soap/glycerol systems

Analogously to aqueous K-soap/water systems already examined, the glycerol-containing systems KC _n /G (KC _n ;n=12, 14, 16, 18, 22; G=glycerol) are also able to build up hexagonal, lamellar, optically isotropic, gel-like and crystalline phases. These preliminary phases have been identified by texture observations of contact samples and singular concentrations with a polarizing microscope. The appertaining phase regions have been plotted in the binary phase diagrams.Correspondences and differences between these systems have been elucidared by drawing a comparison. Mosaic texture and oily streaks are typical of the lamellar phase. Spherulites are mainly found in the heterogeneous two-phase region lamellar/isotropic. The textures of the hexagonal phase are of fan-like morphology. The appearance of the gel phase texture resembles globular or curd-like structures.The influences exerted by the increasing chain lengths of the K-soaps (KC _n ,n=12–22) on the phase regions in the binary systems (KC _n /G) can be described as follows. The concentrations required for forming the hexagonal and the lamellar phase respectively are shifted toward lower K-soap concentrations. The concentration range in which the hexagonal phase is stable is diminished. The temperature range in which the hexagonal phase is stable becomes larger. The upper temperature limit of the lamellar phase region is lowered.Binary aqueous and glycerol-containing K-soap systems have the following common features: The hexagonal phase is built up at low soap concentrations. The lamellar phase is formed at high soap concentrations. The lamellar phase is formed at high soap concentrations. An optically isotropic region is inserved between the lamellar and the hexagonal phase in aqueous and glycerol-containing systems of the types KC₁₄, KC₁₆ and KC₁₈. The temperature of the transition hexagonalisotropic phase (HS) runs through a maximum value. On increasing the chain length the formation of the hexagonal phase is shifted in the direction of lower soap concentrations.Aqueous and glycerol-containing K-soap mixtures differ in the following essential points: The lyotropic mesophases (H, L, I) of aqueous systems are formed at considerably lower soap concentrations than the corresponding phases of glycerol-containing systems. The lamellar phases of aqueous systems reach the regions of very low soap concentrations. The lyotropic mesophases of aqueous systems are built up at temperatures lower than the corresponding ones of glycerol-containing mixtures. In aqueous systems the concentration range of the lamellar phase increases with increasing chain length, in contrast to glycerol-containing systems where it is diminished.     

A lyotropic nematic phase of lamellar micelles (N L) obtained by a non-ionic surfactant in aqueous solution

A non ionic surfactant with a rigid rod-like hydrophobic group has been synthesized. Owing to the molecular geometry of the surfactant only lamellar micelles are formed in aqueous solution.This system exhibits a lyotropic nematic phase (N _L), which for the first time has been found for a binary non ionic surfactant/water system.Herrn Professor Dr. H.-G. Kilian mit herzlichen Glückwünschen zum 60. Geburtstag gewidmet.     

Influence of halogen substituent on the mesomorphic properties of five-ring banana-shaped molecules with azobenzene wings

Three new series of bent-shaped molecules with 4-chlororesorcinol, 4-bromoresorcinol or 4-fluororesorcinol as the central unit, and azobenzene with different alkoxy chain length as side arms were synthesised. The mesophase behaviour was investigated by polarising optical microscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. A representative example has also been characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies. It is found that almost all of the materials prepared are monotropic liquid crystalline. Depending on the substituent at the central unit and on the chain length nematic phases, B₆ phases, a B₄-like dark conglomerate phase and a modulated/undulated anticlinic SmC phase were found. As a unique feature, upon reducing the chain length a transition from nematic to B₆-type smectic phases was observed, which is reverse to usually observed phase sequences. The UV–vis absorption spectroscopy was also performed to study the effect of light-induced trans–cis-isomerisation on the prepared compounds.     

Cybotactic nematic phases of photoisomerisable hockey-stick liquid crystals

New five-ring hockey-stick liquid crystalline materials with 4-bromoresorcinol as the central core unit and an azobenzene-based side arm were synthesised and their mesophase behaviour was investigated by polarising optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction and under a triangular wave electric field. Additional structural modification was done by introducing a lateral fluorine atom in the terminal ring of one of the side arms. It is found that regardless of the alkyl chain length or the lateral fluorine substitution, all of the prepared materials are liquid crystalline exhibiting nematic phases composed of cybotactic clusters of the SmC-type (N_CybC) in addition to a monotropic SmC phase for the longest homologue.     

Molecular structure and the twist-bend nematic phase: the role of terminal chains

ABSTRACT

The synthesis and characterisation of two homologous series of non-symmetric dimers are reported, the 1-(4-methoxybiphenyl-4?-yl)-6-(4-alkylanilinebenzylidene-4?-oxy)hexanes (MeOB6O.m, m = 1–10) and 1-(4-methoxybiphenyl-4?-yl)-6-(4-alkyloxyanilinebenzylidene-4?-oxy)hexanes (MeOB6O.Om, m = 1–9). All 10 members of the MeOB6O.m series exhibit the conventional nematic phase. At lower temperatures, the members with m = 1–7 formed the twist-bend nematic phase, N_TB, whereas for m = 8–10 smectic behaviour replaced the N_TB phase. All nine members of the MeOB6O.Om series also show the conventional nematic phase and for m = 1–3, a strongly monotropic N_TB phase is also observed. The alkyloxy terminated dimers show the higher values of T_NI and T_{NTB N} . For both series, the values of T_NI and T_{NTB N} show a modest alternation and in the same sense as m is increased. These observations suggest that the spatial uniformity of molecular curvature is important in driving the formation of the N_TB phase. The observation of smectic behaviour is attributed to the molecular inhomogeneity arising from the long terminal alkyl chain driving microphase separation. The transitional behaviour of these series is compared to those of the corresponding cyanobiphenyl-based series and overarching observations discussed.     

Liquid crystal dimers and the twist-bend nematic phase. The preparation and characterisation of the α,ω-bis(4-cyanobiphenyl-4′-yl) alkanedioates

Eleven members of the homologous series of liquid crystal dimers, the α,ω-bis(4-cyanobiphenyl-4′-yl) alkanedioates, have been synthesised and their transitional properties characterised. These dimers consist of two cyanobiphenyl units connected by an alkyl spacer attached via ester linkages. All eleven members exhibit exclusively nematic behaviour. The nematic–isotropic transition temperatures, T_NI, and associated entropy changes, ?S_NI/R, exhibit pronounced alternations as the length and parity of the spacer is varied; this is characteristic behaviour of liquid crystal dimers. The transitional properties of the ester-linked dimers are compared with the corresponding materials having either ether, methylene or carbonate linkages between the spacer and mesogenic units. For short spacer lengths and both odd- and even-membered dimers, the ester-linked materials show the highest values of T_NI and the methylene-linked the lowest. For longer spacer lengths, T_NI of the carbonate-linked dimers fall between those of the corresponding ester- and ether-linked dimers. The ether-linked materials show the largest alternation in ?S_NI/R on varying spacer length and the carbonate-linked dimers the lowest. This behaviour is interpreted in terms of the molecular geometry and it is suggested that the ether- and ester-linked odd-membered dimers have rather similar shapes. A phase diagram constructed using binary mixtures of the pentyl member of this ester-linked series and the known twist-bend nematogen, 1,7-bis(4-cyanobiphenyl-4′-yl)heptane (CB7CB), is presented. The twist-bend nematic–nematic transition temperature of the mixtures shows a striking convex curvature as the concentration of CB7CB is decreased, and so it is not possible to estimate a virtual twist-bend nematic–nematic transition temperature for the ester-linked material.     

Synthesis,phase transitions and birefringence of novel liquid crystalline 1,4-phenylene bis(4-alkylthio benzoates) and insights into the cybotactic nematic behaviour

We synthesised a novel family of liquid crystalline 1,4-phenylene bis(4-alkylthio benzoates), of which homologues with different alkyl chain lengths of 1–8 were designed, to investigate the structure–property relationship. The mesogenic incidence and tendency were found to be strongly dependent on the carbon numbers in the terminal alkyl chains. Even members formed widely monotropic or enantiotropic nematic (N) phases compared to odd members that showed either none or monotropic-narrower ones. The temperature dependence of birefringence (Δn) for the hexylthio homologue was evaluated and compared to that for a hexyloxy counterpart. It was found that the hexylthio homologue exhibited higher Δn values than the hexyloxy counterpart over the entire range of near T_IN–T. In addition, wide-angle X-ray diffraction measurements, using magnetically aligned specimens, found enhanced cybotactic nematic tendency with smectic (Sm) A-like temperature dependence for the hexylthio analogue, due to the intermolecular attractive S···S interaction, in comparison with the hexyloxy analogue exhibiting N phase with clear Sm C-type clusters. We revealed the actual benefits of alkylthio groups in the fluid N phase.     

Self-assembled discotic nematic liquid crystals formed by simple hydrogen bonding between phenol and pyridine moieties

New discotic nematic liquid crystals have been prepared through intermolecular hydrogen bonding between the core of 1,3,5-trihydroxybenzene (phloroglucinol, PG) or 1,3,5-tris(4-hydroxyphenyl)benzene (THPB) and the peripheral molecules of stilbazole derivatives. The various nematic phases formed by new hydrogen bonding building blocks were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, polarising optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The first discotic complexes of PG and trans-4-alkoxy-4′-stilbazoles exhibited nematic columnar (N_C) and hexagonal columnar phases depending on the length of alkyl chains, which were considered as the basic discotic structure. Several structural variations on the building blocks were attempted to examine their effects on the liquid crystalline properties of discotic complexes. The nematic lateral phase (N_L) with enhanced intercolumnar order was observed for the complexes of PG and trans-4-cyanoalkoxy-4′ stilbazoles due probably to the strong dipole interactions between cyano groups at the end of alkoxy chains. By introducing the nonlinear structure in three arms of supramolecular discotic mesogen, a discotic nematic phase (N_D) was observed for the complex of THPB and trans-4-octyloxy-4 -stilbazole. The single hydrogen bonding between phenol and pyridine moieties in this study provides a simple and effective method for preparing the rarely found discotic nematic liquid crystals.     

Blue phase stability of n-OCB homologue chiral nematic liquid crystal mixtures

Blue phase (BP) stability of a chiral nematic liquid crystal (LC) mixture is dependent upon chemical structure as well as physical properties. In this study, the blue phase temperature range dependent on alkyl chain length was investigated in order to evaluate the relationship between blue phase stability and the molecular structures of four kinds of 4-n-alkyloxy-4'-cyanobiphenyl (n-OCB) homologue chiral nematic LC mixtures composed of rod-like nematic LCs. It was confirmed that the blue phase temperature range was strongly dependent upon the molecular parity, K ₃₃/K ₁₁ and the helical twist power of the n-OCB homologues chiral nematic LC mixtures.     

Self‐Assembly of Imidazolium‐Based Rodlike Ionic Liquid Crystals: Transition from Lamellar to Micellar Organization

By using aryl‐amination chemistry, a series of rodlike 1‐phenyl‐1H‐imidazole‐based liquid crystals (LCs) and related imidazolium‐based ionic liquid crystals (ILCs) has been prepared. The number and length of the C‐terminal chains (at the noncharged end of the rodlike core) and the length of the N‐terminal chain (on the imidazolium unit in the ILCs) were modified and the influence of these structural parameters on the mode of self‐assembly in LC phases was investigated by polarizing microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and X‐ray diffraction. For the single‐chain imidazole derivatives nematic phases (N) and bilayer SmA₂ phases were found, but upon increasing the number of alkyl chains the LC phases were lost. For the related imidazolium salts LC phases were preserved upon increasing the number and length of the C‐terminal chains and in this series it leads to the phase sequence SmA–columnar (Col)–micellar cubic (Cub_I/Pm3n). Elongation of the N‐terminal chain gives the reversed sequence. Short N‐terminal chains prefer an end‐to‐end packing of the mesogens in which these chains are separated from the C‐terminal chains. Elongation of the N‐terminal chain leads to a mixing of N‐ and C‐terminal chains, which is accompanied by complete intercalation of the aromatic cores. In the smectic phases this gives rise to a transition from bilayer (SmA₂) to monolayer smectic (SmA) phases. For the columnar and cubic phases the segregated end‐to‐end packing leads to core–shell aggregates. In this case, elongation of the N‐terminal chains distorts core–shell formation and removes Cub_I and Col phases in favor of single‐layer SmA phases. Hence, by tailoring the length of the N‐terminal chain, a crossover from taper‐shaped to polycatenar LC tectons was achieved, which provides a powerful tool for control of self‐assembly in ILCs.     

Odd-even effects in the homologous series of alkyl-cyanobiphenyl liquid crystals: a molecular dynamic study

For the first five members of the homologous series of 4-n-alkyl-4'-cyanobiphenyls in the nematic and isotropic phases, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed by using a united atom model. An odd-even effect was seen to be found in the molecular length, width, biaxiality, and inertia tensor anisotropy with the length of alkyl chain. The distributions of the molecular length, width, and inertia tensor anisotropy were presented. The orientational distributions of the last C--C bonds in the alkyl chain were also evaluated for nematic and isotropic phases.     

Determination of elastic constants of a binary system (7CPB+9.CN) showing nematic,induced smectic Ad and re-entrant nematic phases

The temperature variation of the splay and bend elastic constants of a binary system exhibiting nematic-induced smectic A_d and re-entrant nematic phases measured by electric field-induced Freedericksz transition method has been reported. As bend deformation is not permitted in the smectic A phase, bend elastic constant (K₃₃) could only be determined in the nematic and re-entrant nematic phases. In both the nematic phases, the splay elastic constant has the same order of magnitude and does not show any pretransitional effect. However, in the induced smectic A_d phase, the value of K₁₁ is about one to two orders higher than that in the nematic phases. The bend elastic constant shows a strong pretransitional effect near the nematic–smectic and smectic–re-entrant nematic phase transitions. The influence of the presence of the induced smectic phase is observed even in those mixtures which have no induced smectic phases. As the smectic phase is approached, the ratio K₃₃/K₁₁ increases rapidly and diverges to infinity.     

Striking differences between alkyl sulfate and alkyl sulfonate when mixed with cationic surfactants

The properties of alkyl sulfate and alkyl sulfonate are similar except for their Krafft points. However, alkyl sulfate and alkyl sulfonate behave quite differently when they are mixed with cationic surfactants and show some totally unexpected results. In this work sodium alkyl sulfate (C_nH_2n+1SO₄Na,C_nSO₄)–alkyl quaternary ammonium bromide [C_nH_2n+1N(C_mH_2m+1)₃Br, C_nN, m=1–4] mixtures and sodium alkyl sulfonate (C_nH_2n+1SO₃Na, C_nSO₃)–C_nN mixtures were studied. It was found that, in contrast to the single surfactants, C_nSO₃–C_nN mixtures were much more soluble than C_nSO₄–C_nN mixtures. Besides, the two kinds of catanionic surfactant mixtures were quite different in their phase behavior and aggregate properties. The results were interpreted in terms of the interactions between surfactant molecules, which were very different in the two kinds of mixed systems owing to the distinction between alkyl sulfate and alkyl sulfonate in the molecular charge distribution.     

Phase transition behaviours of calamitic liquid crystals comprising phenylbenzothiazole core

A series of new calamitic liquid crystals 2-[4-(4-alkyloxybenzoyloxy)-phenyl]benzothiazoles comprising a benzothiazole core, terminal alkyl chain and an ester linkage were synthesised and characterised. This series consists of 13 members, wherein the members differ by the length of alkyloxy chain (C _n H_2n+1O^?, where n?=?2–10, 12, 14, 16, 18). Their mesomorphic properties were studied by using differential scanning calorimetry, optical polarising microscopy and powder X-ray diffraction techniques. Enantiotropic nematic phase was present throughout the series, i.e. from the lowest member (n?=?2) until the highest member (n?=?18) of the series. The smectic A phase emerged from the nonyloxy derivative onwards.     

Sulfur-linked cyanobiphenyl-based liquid crystal dimers and the twist-bend nematic phase

ABSTRACT

The synthesis and characterisation of two series of cyanobiphenyl-based liquid crystal dimers containing sulfur links between the spacer and mesogenic units, the 4?-[1,ω-alkanediylbis(thio)]bis-[1,1?-biphenyl]-4-carbonitriles (CBSnSCB), and 4?-({ω-[(4?-cyano[1,1?-biphenyl]-4-yl)oxy]alkyl}thio)[1,1?-biphenyl]-4-carbonitriles (CBSnOCB) are described. The odd members of both series show twist-bend nematic and nematic phases, whereas the even members exhibit only the nematic phase. An analogous cyanoterphenyl-based dimer, 3⁴-{6-[(4?-cyano[1,1?-biphenyl]-4-yl)thio]-hexyl}[1¹,2¹:2⁴,3¹-terphenyl]-1⁴-carbonitrile (CT6SCB), is also reported and shows enantiotropic N_TB and N phases. The transitional properties of these dimers are discussed in terms of molecular curvature, flexibility and biaxiality. The same molecular factors also influence the birefringence of nematic phases. Resonant X-ray scattering studies of the twist-bend nematic phase at both the carbon and sulfur absorption edges were performed, which allowed for the determination of critical behaviour of the helical pitch at the transition to the nematic phase, the behaviour was found to be independent of molecular structure. It was also observed that despite the different molecular bending angle and flexibility, in all compounds the helical pitch length far from the N-N_TB transition corresponds to 4 longitudinal molecular distances.     

Reentrant nematic phase in 4-alkyl-4′-cyanobiphenyl (nCB) binary mixtures

The appearance of reentrant nematic phase was identified in nCB/8CB (n = 1–6) binary mixtures using differential scanning calorimetry, small-angle X-ray diffraction and polarising microscopy with photomonitor. Phase diagrams can roughly be unified if plotted against the average number of alkyl chain length. Distinction was recognised for the phase boundaries between nematic and smectic A phases of even and odd n of the minor component nCB. The character of 8CB as ‘SmA former’ is briefly discussed.