Orientational order and dynamics of molecules in the nematic phase 4-trans-(4-trans-n-propylcyclohexyl)cyclohexanenitrile

A sample of 4-trans-(4-trans-n-propylcyclohexyl)cyclohexanenitrile (CCH3) has been synthesized containing six deuterons randomly distributed between axial and equatorial positions in the cyanylated ring. The local orientational order parameters for axes fixed in this ring have been measured by obtaining the deuterium N.M.R. spectrum. The results show that the lack of symmetry and flexibility of the molecule affect the order matrix. The biaxiality in the local order matrix is small and could be close to zero, depending on the location, as yet unknown, of the principal axes. The spectral densities J₁(ω) and J₂(ω) have been measured for a sample oriented with the director orthogonal to B₀. It is shown that these spectral densities cannot be explained by the mechanism of relaxation being caused solely by director fluctuations. It is also not possible to explain the spectral densities by invoking only small-step rotational diffusion. A combination of these two relaxation mechanisms does fit the data.     

NMR relaxation of rigid molecules in the nematic phase of a discotic liquid crystal

Abstract

Frequency and temperature dependent NMR relaxation measurements were performed on deuteriated benzene, pyrene and triphenylene dissolved in the nematic phase of a discotic liquid crystal. The results show a strong frequency dependence of the spectral densities. Based on the symmetries of the system and the usual model for director fluctuations this frequency dependence should be equal for J ₁ and J ₂. From fitting the commonly used model of rotational diffusion and director fluctuations to the data we see that this is not the case for benzene and triphenylene, even though the fits themselves are satisfactory. Values for the elastic constants, effective viscosity and translational diffusion in similar discotic liquid crystals do not account quantitatively for the frequency dependence of benzene. For both pyrene and triphenylene quantitative comparison was impossible due to lack of translational diffusion data. We also find that the so-called cut-off wave-length is of the order of the dimensions of the liquid crystal molecules, just as in ordinary nematics.     

氢键稳定的苯并菲盘状液晶的合成及介晶性

盘状液晶分子能自组装成高度有序的六方柱状介晶相. 其各向异性的载流子高速迁移率使其成为较理想的有机光电子材料. 采用分子间氢键锚定柱状相, 获得介晶相温度范围宽、有序度高的苯并菲盘状液晶是本研究的目的. 本文通过分子设计, 合成了3个系列, 共18个有两种不同软链的苯并菲盘状液晶化合物C₁₈H₆(OR)₅(OCH₂COOEt), C₁₈H₆(OR)₅(OCH₂COOBu)和C₁₈H₆(OR)₅(OCH₂CONHBu), 其中R＝C_nH_2n＋1, n＝4～9. 化合物的纯度和结构通过¹H NMR和元素分析确证. 化合物热稳定性通过热重分析(TGA)测定, 并显示出较高的热稳定性. 通过偏光显微镜(POM)和差示扫描量热法(DSC)对这些化合物的热致液晶性进行了研究. 结果显示对于分子中含有酰胺基的苯并菲液晶化合物C₁₈H₆(OR)₅(OCH₂CONHBu), 与具有同样软链长度的分子中不含酰胺键的化合物系列C₁₈H₆(OR)₅(OCH₂COOBu)相比较, 前者由于柱内分子间氢键的形成, 具有更高的熔点和清亮点.     

Density and refractive index measurements in hexaheptyloxytriphenylene,a discotic liquid crystal

Density and refractive index measurements in the discotic liquid crystal hexaheptyloxytriphenylene were performed in the hexagonal columnar Col_ho and isotropic I phases. The temperature dependence of the density ρ(T) for this compound was obtained by combining small angle X-ray data and capillary methods. The ordinary n _o extraordinary n _e and isotropic liquid n _i refractive indices were measured using a modified Abbe refractometer to an accuracy of about 10^?3. To check the consistency of the density and the refractometry experiments we used the Lorentz–Lorenz relation. An anomaly in the empirical relationship at the Col_ho–I phase transition, which holds for many uniaxial liquid crystals, was detected. A discrepancy between low birefringence Δn～0.109 and a relatively high local electric field anisotropy for hexaheptyloxytriphenylene is discussed.     

Study of internal ring rotation and molecular reorientation in the liquid crystal 5O.7 by deuterium N.M.R. spectroscopy

Abstract

The spectral densities of motion were determined by deuterium N.M.R. relaxation measurements in the nematic, smectic A and smectic C phases of 4-n-pentyloxybenzylidene-d ₁-4′-heptylaniline and 4-n-pentyloxybenzylidene-4′-heptylaniline-2,3,5,6-d ₄. By examining two atomic sites on a 5O.7 molecule, we were able to gain information on the reorientation motion and internal rotation of the aniline ring. It was also found that director fluctuations make some contribution to the spectral density J ₁ (ω). We use the superimposed rotations model to account for the internal ring motion and the small step rotational diffusion model for the molecular reorientation. The derived rotational diffusion constants for the spinning and tumbling motions appear to give physically plausible activation energies in the mesophases of 5O.7.     

A carbon-13 study of relaxation in the mesophases of 5O·7 and the 5CB homologous series

Abstract

Carbon-13 spin-lattice relaxation times of the protonated ring carbons have been measured at 22·6 MHz in the nematic and all four smectic phases of 5O·7 (4-n-pentyloxybenzylidene-4′-n-heptylaniline). Dong has obtained the deuterium spectral densities J ₁ and J ₂ at 15·4MHz for the deuterated aniline ring of 5O·7-d ₄, and has presented and applied a theory in which the spectral densities are expressed in terms of the diffusion constants D∥ and D?. His results are used to calculate ¹³C relaxation times from the spectral densities J ₀, J ₁ and J ₂. The calculated ¹³C spin-lattice relaxation times are then compared with our experimental values to test the theory. The ¹³C spin-lattice relaxation times of all the resolved resonances in the various phases of the first four members of the 5CB homologous series have been published previously. Dong has also published an analysis of 5CB deuterium data, and we use his results for the diffusion constants D∥ and D? to calculate ¹³C relaxation times of the protonated aromatic carbons of 5CB, 6CB, 7CB and 8CB. The ¹³C relaxation times of the unprotonated aromatic carbons of the 5CB series are calculated in the manner of Wittebort et al., but using the spectral density expressions developed by Dong. The calculated ¹³C spin-lattice relaxation times of the 5CB homologous series are then compared with our experimental values to test the theory for the protonated and unprotonated ring carbons.     

Columnar liquid crystals in oligosaccharide derivatives. II. Two types of discotic columnar liquid-crystalline phase of cellobiose alkanoates

Abstract

A series of cellobiose octaalkanoates, Cel-II-n (n is the carbon number of the alkyl chain), with n = 7–14 were prepared and their mesogenic properties examined by differential scanning calorimetry, optical polarizing microscopy and X-ray diffraction. All of these compounds form enantiotropic discotic columnar phases, in which the columns are built up by a regular stacking of the cellobiose moieties and are packed in a two dimensional lattice. Homologues with n = 9–14 form the D_ho phase only whilst the compound with n = 7 forms the D_ro phase. The n = 8 compound forms the D_ho phase at higher temperatures and the D_ro phase at lower temperatures. Structural parameters obtained from X-ray diffraction studies are presented for both phases.     

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.     

Nuclear spin relaxation in biaxial liquid crystal phases

Abstract

The orientation-dependent spin-lattice relaxation rates for biaxial liquid crystal phases are given explicitly in terms of spectral densities J _mLm′L (ω) described by Berggren et al. (1993, J. chem. Phys., 99, 6180). It is recognized that the ‘biaxial’ spectral densities are not observed in biaxial phases unless the director is oriented away from the external magnetic field.     

NMR relaxation of rigid molecules in the nematic phase of a discotic liquid crystal

Frequency and temperature dependent NMR relaxation measurements were performed on deuteriated benzene, pyrene and triphenylene dissolved in the nematic phase of a discotic liquid crystal. The results show a strong frequency dependence of the spectral densities. Based on the symmetries of the system and the usual model for director fluctuations this frequency dependence should be equal for J₁ and J₂. From fitting the commonly used model of rotational diffusion and director fluctuations to the data we see that this is not the case for benzene and triphenylene, even though the fits themselves are satisfactory. Values for the elastic constants, effective viscosity and translational diffusion in similar discotic liquid crystals do not account quantitatively for the frequency dependence of benzene. For both pyrene and triphenylene quantitative comparison was impossible due to lack of translational diffusion data. We also find that the so-called cut-off wave-length is of the order of the dimensions of the liquid crystal molecules, just as in ordinary nematics.     

Transitions between the B2 phase and more usual smectic phases in binary systems of banana-shaped with calamitic mesogens

Deuterium NMR spectroscopy is used to study a ring-deuteriated chiral liquid crystal 4-(2-methylbutyl)oxycarbonylphenyl 4-(10-undecenyloxy)benzoate. The quadrupolar and proton-deuteron dipolar splittings, and deuteron quadrupolar and Zeeman spin-lattice relaxation times were measured as a function of temperature in the smectic A phase at two different Larmor frequencies. The derived spectral densities of motion at different temperatures were analysed simultaneously using a rotational diffusion model which also includes internal ring rotations. Motional parameters (D _⊥, D _∥, D _R) and order parameter tensors (S_zz , S_xx -S_yy ) were obtained. Although the present data seem insufficient to draw a definitive conclusion, we believe that it is possible for this particular chiral molecule to have D_⊥ >D_∥ , which is different from non-chiral rod-like liquid crystals.     

Frequency spectra of disordered metals: especially liquid Rb

The phonon frequency spectrum g(ω) of a crystal, such as body centred cubic (bcc) Rb, is known to be characterized by the Van Hove singularities at ω?≠?0. However, for a liquid metal like Rb, g(ω) has a single, hydrodynamic-like singularity, namely a cusp ∝ ω ^(1/2), at ω?=?0. Here, we note first that computer simulation on liquid Rb near freezing has revealed a rather well-defined Debye frequency ω_D. Therefore, we propose here a zeroth-order model g ₀ (ω ) of g(ω) for Rb, which combines the Debye model with the ‘hydrodynamic’ ω ^(1/2) cusp. The corresponding velocity autocorrelation function 〈 v (t)·v (0)〉 has correctly a long-time tail ∝ t ^-(3/2). The terms from g ₀ (ω ) involving ω_D are then damped by weak exponential factors exp (-α _i t), and the resulting first-order approximation, g ₁ (ω ) say, to the frequency spectrum is found to have features in common with the molecular dynamics (MD) simulation form. Thus ω_D is fixed, as well as transport coefficients for the known thermodynamic state. The article concludes with a more qualitative discussion on supercooled liquids, and on metallic glasses such as Fe, for which MD simulations exist.     

Synthesis of Mixed Tail Triphenylene Discotic Liquid Crystals： Molecular Symmetry and Oxygen-Atom Effect on the Stabilization of Columnar Mesophases

Small change in chemical structure of discotic liquid crystals can cause big difference in their mesomorphism. Replacing of the alkoxy peripheral chains of triphenylene by oxygen-atom containing ester chains would result in novel mesomorphism. A series of mixed tail triphenylenes containing propoxyacetyloxy and alkoxy, abbreviated as C18H6（OCnH2n＋1）3（OCOCH2OC3H7）3, n=4-8, and hexa（propyloxyacetyloxy）triphenylene, C18H6（OCOCH2OC3H7）6 were synthesized. Thermal gravimetry analysis （TGA） of three discogens showed that they had good thermal stability till 350 ℃. The mesomorphism was investigated through differential scanning calorimetry （DSC） and polarized optical microscopy （POM）. The preliminary X-ray diffraction （XRD） results of one compound showed that it exhibited ordered hexagonal columnar （Colho） mesophase. These mixed tail triphenylene derivatives possessed much stable Colho mesophase and wider mesophase ranges than their hexaalkoxytriphenylene C18H6（OR）6 and hexaalkanoyloxytriphenylene C18H6（OCOR＇）6 analogues. The asymmetrical compounds 2,6,11-trialkoxy-3,7,10-tri（2-propyloxyacetyloxy）triphenylenes with n=5-8 displayed higher clearing points and wider temperature ranges than their symmetrical isomers 2,6,10-trialkoxy-3,7,11-tri（2-propyloxyacetyloxy）- triphenylenes, while C18H6（OCOCH2OC3H7）6 had the highest clearing point due to the β-oxygen-atom effect.     

Bestimmung der Dissoziationsenergien der gasförmigen Moleküle CuGe,AgGe und AuGe

The dissociation energies of the gaseous molecules CuGe, AgGe, AuGe, Ge₂, and Cu₂ have been determined by mass spectrometric investigations of the vapour phases above the liquid alloys Ge?Cu, Ge?Ag, and Ge?Au. The evaluation according to the third-law method leads to the following values for the dissociation energies:D ₀°(CuGe)=49,0±5 kcal/mole;D ₀°(AgGe)=40,8±5 kcal/mole;D ₀°(AuGe)=65,3±3,5 kcal/Mol;D ₀°(Ge₂)=64,5±5 kcal/Mol;D ₀°(Cu₂)=64,5±5 kcal/Mol.     

Angular dependent linewidths of ESR spin probes in oriented smectic systems. An application to oriented lecithin—cholesterol multibilayers

A theory, based on the diffusion model of molecular reorientation extended with an orienting potential, is developed for the angular dependence of the ESR linewidths of symmetrical top radicals in oriented smectic liquid crystals. The theoretical results have been compared with linewidth data obtained with the cholestane spin label in oriented multibilayers of equimolar quantities of dipalmitoyl lecithin and cholesterol. For the determiination of the linewidths, the ESR spectra were fitted to a line shape function, which includes unresolved proton hyperfine interactions.From the comparison of theory and experiment the rotational diffusion tensor and order parameter S can be found, giving D_⊥ = 3.4 × 10⁶ s^?1, D|/D_⊥ = 40 and S = 0.86 at 49°C. The high value of D|/D_⊥ indicates a strong anisotropic motion of the cholestane spin label. The order parameter found is in good agreement with the order parameter calculated from the angular dependence of the ESR line positions.     

Comparison of the Diffusion of Aqueous Glycine Hydrochloride and Aqueous Glycine

A Taylor dispersion tube has been used to measure mutual diffusion in aqueous solutions of glycine hydrochloride at 25°C and concentrations from 0.0005 to 0.5 M. Analysis of the dispersion profiles shows that the diffusion of glycine hydrochloride (GlyHCl) produces a subtantial additional flow of hydrochloric acid that is liberated by the dissociation: GlyH⁺ + Cl^- Gly + H⁺ + Cl^-. Diffusion in this system is, therefore, a ternary process described by the equations J ₁(GlyHCl) = – D ₁₁C ₁ – D ₁₂C ₂ and J ₂(HCl) = –D ₂₁C ₁ – D ₂₂C ₂ for the coupled fluxes of total glycine hydrochloride (1) and hydrochloric acid (2) components. The ratio D ₂₁/D ₁₁ of measured diffusion coefficients indicates that up to two moles of HCl are cotransported per mole of GlyHCl. Although protonated glycine diffuses with relatively mobile Cl^– counterions, the main diffusion coefficient of glycine hydrochloride, D ₁₁, is lower than or nearly identical to the diffusion coefficient of aqueous glycine. A model for the diffusion of protonated solutes is developed to interpret this result and the large coupled flows of HCl. Diffusion coefficients are also reported for the aqueous hydrochlorides of 3- and 4-aminobenzoic acids.     

Poly(methylphenyl) silane: Structural properties

The physical structure of poly(methylphenyl) silane (PMPS) has been investigated using wide-angle x-ray scattering at various temperatures and optical polarizing microscopy. The results obtained by these techniques clearly show the existence of an ordered phase in PMPS. The crystallinity of our sample was estimated to be about 10% at room temperature. Below 190°C, the atactic chains pack into a monoclinic crystalline lattice of near hexagonal symmetry, with two types of disorder existing in the packing. At about 190°C, a phase transition to a liquid crystalline columnar hexagonal packing (D_ho) occurs. Finally, the sample melts into an isotropic amorphous phase. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 35: 1727–1736, 1997     

The collisional quenching of electronically excited arsenic atoms As(42DJ) and As(42PJ), studied by time-resolved attenuation of atomic resonance radiation

A kinetic investigation of electronically excited arsenic atoms in the low-lying states, As(4p^{3 2}D_J) and As(4p^{3 2}P_J), ca. 1.33 and 2.28 eV, respectively, above the 4⁴S_3/2 ground state, has been carried out by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Atoms in these optically metastable states were generated by the pulsed irradiation of suitable arsenic compounds (AsMe₃ for ²D and AsCl₃ for ²P) in different spectral regions and monitored photoelectrically by time-resolved attenuation of atomic resonance radiation. Rate constants for the deactivation of these two states are reported for a range of collision partners. The data are compared with those of the analogous states of lighter atoms in group V, namely, P(3²D_J, 3²P_J) and N(2²D_J, 2²P_J), and discussed in terms of spin and orbital symmetry considerations.     

Transport through a slab membrane governed by a concentration-dependent diffusion coefficient: Part IV. D(C)/D0=1+(αC)−β(αC)

Using the specific functional form D(C)/D₀=1+(αC)−β(αC)² an investigation has been made of (isothermal) transport through a slab membrane under ‘simple’ boundary conditions and governed by a diffusion coefficient, D(C), which, with increasing concentration, at first increases, passes through a maximum value and finally decreases. The flux, integral diffusion coefficient and concentration profile characteristic of steady-state permeation have been evaluated; special attention has been paid to the positions of such profiles in relation to the corresponding linear distribution associated with a constant diffusion coefficient.The corresponding transient-state transport has been studied within a framework of the time-lag ‘early-time’ and ‘ ’ procedures. Expressions for the ‘adsorption’ and ‘desorption’ time-lags are given. The concentration-dependence of these time-lags, of the (four) integral diffusion coefficients derived from them and of the arithmetic-mean time-lag ratios have been considered in some detail. The ‘early-time’ and ‘ ’ finite-difference procedures have likewise been employed to derive four further integral diffusion coefficients, so enabling a comparison to be made of the nine integral coefficients pertaining to established experimental techniques.Particular interest attaches to the situation for which n≡β(αC₀)=1 (where C₀ is the ingoing or upstream concentration of diffusant) resulting in D(C₀) being symmetrical about C₀/2. Some consideration has been given, in general, to features of transient-state transport when governed by a symmetrical D(C).     

Wave packet and quasiclassical trajectory calculations for the N(D) + H2 reaction and its isotopic variants

The N(²D) + H₂(v = 0, j = 0) reaction and its HD and D₂ isotopic variants have been studied by means of quantum mechanical real wave packet and wave packet with split operator and quasiclassical trajectory methodologies on the potential energy surface of Ho et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 119 (2003) 6]. Total initial state-selected and final state-resolved reaction probabilities and product rotational distributions have been calculated for total angular momentum J = 0 in a broad range of collision energies. The real wave packet results are in very good agreement with the corresponding split operator wave packet calculations. A reasonable overall good agreement has been found between the wave packet and quasiclassical trajectory results. Integral cross-sections and thermal rate constants have been calculated from the wave packet reaction probabilities by means of standard J-shifting, refined J-shifting and uniform J-shifting methods in combination with the centrifugal sudden approximation for J > 0. Comparisons with available exact wave packet, quasiclassical trajectory and experimental results are made and discussed.