Structure-property relationships in azobenzene-based twist-bend nematogens

ABSTRACT

The synthesis and characterisation of a new set of azobenzene-based non-symmetric liquid crystal dimers, the 1-(4-substitutedazobenzene-4?-yloxy)-6-(4-methoxybiphenyl-4?-yl)hexanes (MeOB6OABX), that exhibit the twist-bend nematic phase, N_TB, is described. The terminal substituents are methyl, methoxy, ethyl, butyl, butoxy, and nitrile. All six dimers exhibit both the N_TB and conventional nematic, N, phases. The identification of the N_TB phase was performed using polarised light microscopy and confirmed for binary mixtures with a standard twist-bend nematogen 1,7-bis-4-(4?-cyanobiphenyl) heptane (CB7CB). The transitional behaviour of the MeOB6OABX dimers is compared with that of the corresponding ether-linked 1-(4-substitutedazobenzene-4?-yloxy)-6-(4-methoxybiphenyl-4?-yloxy)pentanes, MeOBO5OABX, all of which exhibit a conventional nematic phase. In addition, the nitrile-substituted MeOBO5OABCN shows the N_TB phase. The behaviour of these non-symmetric dimers is also compared to that of the corresponding symmetric dimers. Differences in the transitional properties between these sets of new materials are accounted for in terms of not only molecular shape but also other factors including the strength of the mixed mesogen interaction.     

Cyanobiphenyl-based liquid crystal dimers and the twist-bend nematic phase

ABSTRACT

The synthesis and characterisation of several members of the 1,ω-bis(4-cyanobiphenyl-4′-yl) alkane (CBnCB) and the 1-(4-cyanobiphenyl-4′-yloxy)-ω-(4-cyanobiphenyl-4′-yl) alkane (CBnOCB) homologous series are reported. The new odd members described CB5CB, CB13CB, CB4OCB, CB8OCB and CB10OCB all exhibit twist-bend nematic and nematic phases. The members of these series already reported in literature, CB7CB, CB9CB, CB11CB and CB6OCB, were also prepared in order to allow for a direct comparison of their transitional properties. The properties of these dimers are also compared to those of the corresponding members of the 1,ω-bis(4-cyanobiphenyl-4,-yloxy) alkanes (CBOnOCB). For any given total spacer length, for odd members of these series, the nematic–isotropic transition temperatures and associated entropy changes are greatest for the CBOnOCB dimer and lowest for the CBnCB dimer. These trends are understood in terms of molecular shape. For short spacer lengths, the twist-bend nematic–nematic transition temperature (T_NTBN) is higher for the CBnOCB series than for the CBnCB series but this is reversed as the spacer length increases. Of the CBOnOCB dimers, a virtual value of T_NTBN was estimated for CBO3OCB and T_NTBN was measured for CBO5OCB. These values are considerably lower than those observed for the corresponding members of the CBnCB or CBnOCB series. The dependence of T_NTBN on molecular structure is discussed not only in terms of the molecular curvature but also in the ability of the molecules to pack efficiently. As the temperature range of the preceding nematic phase increases, so the twist-bend nematic–nematic transition entropy change decreases and the transition approaches second order for the longer spacers. For comparative purposes, the transitional behaviour of the even-membered dimers CB6CB, CB5OCB and CBO4OCB is reported and differences accounted for in terms of molecular shape.     

Formation of periodic zigzag patterns in the twist-bend nematic liquid crystal phase by surface treatment

ABSTRACT

Zigzag patterns were successfully generated in the twist-bend nematic (N_TB) phase of 1-(4-cyanobiphenyl-4′-yl)-6-(4-cyanobiphenyl-4′-yloxy)hexane (CB6OCB) via simple surface treatment. A detailed microscopy study using polarised optical microscopy and fluorescence confocal polarising microscopy was performed to observe the director arrangement in the zigzags, where distinctive periodic patterns were found to be aligned perpendicular to the rubbing direction. These patterns originate from the structural instability and generation of splay deformation with focal conic domain-like structures that are typically found in smectic phases, revealing that the N_TB phase has physical properties similar to those of the smectic phase. Observation of these unusual zigzag patterns in the N_TB phase opens an avenue for use of this phase in potential applications such as optical modulators and gratings.     

Structure–property relationships in twist-bend nematogens: the influence of terminal groups

ABSTRACT

The synthesis and characterisation of a range of non-symmetric liquid crystal dimers designed to exhibit the twist-bend nematic phase is reported. Beginning with 1-(4-cyanobiphenyl-4′-yloxy)-6-(4-cyanobiphenyl-4′-yl) hexane, each nitrile group is exchanged systematically for a methoxy group. The behaviour of these dimers is interpreted in terms of their bent shape being the predominant driving force for the formation of the twist-bend nematic phase, and the small differences between the twist-bend nematic–nematic transition temperatures are attributed to the differences between the interaction strength parameters of the mesogenic units. The 4-alkyloxyphenyl 4-[6-(4′-cyanobiphenyl-4-yl)hexyloxy]benzoates with ethyl, butyl, hexyl and octyl chains show the twist-bend nematic phase, whereas the corresponding 4-alkyloxyphenyl 4-[5-(4′-cyanobiphenyl-4-yloxy)pentyloxy]benzoates do not. This difference in behaviour is attributed to the more bent structure of the former. Increasing the terminal chain length initially decreases the twist-bend nematic–nematic transition temperature and this suggests that the chain disrupts the interactions between the mesogenic units. Subsequent increases in chain length have a smaller effect suggesting that the chain can be accommodated within an intercalated arrangement. The transitional behaviour of 1-(4-cyanobiphenyl-4′-yloxy)-6-(4-butyloxybiphenyl-4′-yl) hexane is compared to that of 1-(4-cyanobiphenyl-4′-yloxy)-6-(4-((S)-2-methyl)butyloxybiphenyl-4′-yl) hexane, and it is shown that chain branching strongly destabilises the twist-bend nematic phase. This is attributed to difficulties associated with packing the dimers.     

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.     

The twist-bend nematic phase: translational self-diffusion and biaxiality studied by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance diffusometry

ABSTRACT

Recently, there has been a surge of interest in mesogens exhibiting the twist-bend nematic (N_TB) phase that is shown to be chiral even though formed by effectively achiral molecules. Although it now seems to be clear that the N_TB phase in the bulk is formed by degenerate domains having opposite handedness, the presence of a supramolecular heliconical structure proposed in the Dozov model has been contradicted by the Hoffmann et al. model in which the heliconical arrangement is replaced by a polar nematic phase. The evidence in support of this is that the quadrupolar splitting tensor measured in various experiments is uniaxial and not biaxial as expected for the twist-bend nematic structure. In this debate, among other evidence, the molecular translational diffusion, and its magnitude with respect to that in the nematic phase above the N_TB phase, has also been invoked to eliminate or to confirm one model or the other. We attempt to resolve this issue by reporting the first measurements of the translational self-diffusion coefficients in the nematic and twist-bend nematic phases formed 1″,7″-bis-4-(4′-cyanobiphenyl-4′-yl) heptane (CB7CB). Such measurements certainly appear to resolve the differences between the two models in favour of that for the classic twist-bend nematic phase.     

Twist-Bend Nematic Glasses: The Synthesis and Characterisation of Pyrene-based Nonsymmetric Dimers

A selection of pyrene-based liquid crystal dimers have been prepared, containing either methylene-ether or diether linked spacers of varying length and parity. All the diether linked materials, CBOnO.Py (n=5, 6, 11, 12), exhibit conventional nematic and smectic A phases, with the exception of CBO11O.Py which is exclusively nematic. The methylene-ether linked dimer, CBnO.Py, with an even-membered spacer (n=5) was solely nematogenic, but odd-members (n=6, 8, 10) exhibited both nematic and twist-bend nematic phases. Replacement of the cyanobiphenyl fragment by cyanoterphenyl giving CT6O.Py, gave elevated melting and nematic-isotropic transition temperatures, and SmA and SmC_A phases were observed on cooling the nematic phase. Intermolecular face-to-face associations of the pyrene moieties drive glass formation, and all these materials have a glass transition temperature at or above room temperature. The stability of the glassy twist-bend nematic phase allowed for its study using AFM, and the helical pitch length, P_TB, was measured as 6.3 and 6.7 nm for CB6O.Py and CB8O.Py, respectively. These values are comparable to the shortest pitch of a twist-bend nematic phase measured to date.     

Ether- and Thioether-Linked Naphthalene-Based Liquid-Crystal Dimers: Influence of Chalcogen Linkage and Mesogenic-Arm Symmetry on the Incidence and Stability of the Twist–Bend Nematic Phase

The twist–bend nematic (N_TB) phase with a heliconical nanostructure of the local director generating symmetry breaking by achiral bent-shaped molecules is a hot topic of current liquid-crystal science. As opposed to the most common methylene-linked dimers, this study demonstrates chalcogen ether- and/or thioether-linked 6-(4-cyanophenyl)-2-naphthyl-based liquid-crystal dimers with symmetric and asymmetric π-conjugated mesogenic-arm structures that exhibit the N_TB phase. Although the symmetric bis(ether)-linked dimer exhibits only the conventional nematic (N) phase, the asymmetric bis(ether)-linked dimer can form the N_TB phase. All thioether-linked dimers form the N_TB phase, wherein the dimers with asymmetric arms vitrify in the N_TB phase on cooling to room temperature. The phase transitions are discussed in terms of the chalcogen linkage combination, mesogenic-arm symmetry, and spacer length. It is revealed that thioether-linked dimers based on asymmetric π-conjugated mesogenic arms with terminal cyano groups are highly beneficial for the realization of materials that form a wide range of N_TB phases and glassy N_TB states at room temperature.     

Twist bend nematic liquid crystals prepared by one-step condensation of 4-(4-Pentylcyclohexyl) benzoic acid and alkyl diol

Twist bend nematic (N_TB)-forming 9OCCHP5 and 11OCCHP5 dimers were synthesised by one-step condensation of 4-(4-pentylcyclohexyl) benzoic acid and alkyl diol with yields as high as 80%. Although each dimer formed the N_TB phase only during the cooling process in a narrow temperature width as large as 4°C, their equiweight mixture formed an N_TB phase during both the heating and cooling processes, displaying elliptical polygonal domains and rope-like optical texture. The N_TB temperature range became wider by 29–38°C and reduced the orientational order parameter significantly from 0.39 to 0.29 with decreasing temperature.     

A Twist‐Bend Nematic Phase Driven by Hydrogen Bonding

The liquid crystalline phase behavior of 4‐[6‐(4′‐cyanobiphenyl‐4‐yl)hexyloxy]benzoic acid (CB6OBA) and 4‐[5‐(4′‐cyanobiphenyl‐4‐yloxy)pentyloxy]benzoic acid (CBO5OBA) is described. Both acids show an enantiotropic nematic phase attributed to the formation of supramolecular complexes by hydrogen bonding between the benzoic acid units. In addition, CB6OBA provides the first example of hydrogen bonding driving the formation of the twist‐bend nematic phase. The observation of the twist‐bend nematic phase for CB6OBA, but not CBO5OBA, is attributed to the more bent molecular shape of the complexes formed by the former, reinforcing the view that shape is a key factor in stabilizing this new phase. Temperature‐dependent FTIR spectroscopy reveals differences in hydrogen bonding between the two nematic phases shown by CB6OBA which suggest that the open hydrogen‐bonded complexes may play an important role in stabilizing the helical arrangement found in the twist‐bend nematic phase.     

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.     

A Liquid Crystalline Oligomer Exhibiting Nematic and Twist‐Bend Nematic Mesophases

The twist‐bend nematic phase (N_TB) has been described as the structural link between the untilted uniaxial nematic phase (N) and the helical chiral nematic phase (N*). The N_TB phase exhibits phenomena of fundamental importance to science, that is, 1) the spontaneous formation of a helical pitch on the nanometer scale in a fluid and 2) the spontaneous breaking of mirror symmetry, leading to the emergence of chiral domains in an achiral system. In this Communication, we present a study on T4₉ [bis(4‐(9‐(4‐((4‐cyanobenzoyl)oxy)phenyl)nonyl)phenyl) 4,4′‐(nonane‐1,9‐diyl)dibenzoate], a liquid‐crystalline oligomer exhibiting the twist‐bend nematic phase, which has a molecular length that is of comparable dimensions to the sub‐10 nm pitch determined for CB9CB, and provide new insights into the differentiation between the nano‐ and macro‐science for self‐assembling supermolecular systems.     

Comb-shaped liquid crystalline ionogenic copolymers

 A series of new ionogenic liquid crystalline (LC) copolymers (A4CB-AA) was prepared by radical copolymerization of 4-(4-cyanobiphenyl-4′-yloxy) butyl acrylate (A4CB) and acrylic acid (AA). The presence of the AA units do not prevent the development of the nematic phase, which is typical of the initial cyanobiphenyl homopolymer. At a content of AA of 42–52 mol%, the copolymers produce the S _Ad type of mesophase, and this phenomenon is explained by an increased rigidity of the main chain due to the development of intramolecular hydrogen bonds. By increasing the concentration of AA units higher than 55 mol%, the development of mesophase is prevented, and the as-received copolymers are amorphous. A crucial role of intramolecular hydrogen bonds for the development of the S _A phase in the copolymers is proved by synthesizing and studying the copolymers, in which the same type of the mesogenic group A4CB is preserved but the second component is provided by methyl ether of acrylic acid; such copolymers are able to produce only a nematic phase. Studying orientation of LC A4CB-AA copolymers in the magnetic field by the method of wide-line ¹H NMR spectroscopy allows one to calculate the temperature dependences of order parameter S and to advance a correct interpretation of experimental data. Received: 8 January 1998 Accepted: 14 April 1998     

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.     

Orientational elasticity of nematic alpha,omega(4-bis(-cyanobiphenyl-4'yloxy)alkanes

The splay orientational elastic constants for the nematic phases of a series of dimeric alpha,omega-bis(4-cyanobiphenyl-4-yloxy)alkanes have been determined by the method of Freedericksz threshold transitions in a magnetic field. A dramatic odd-even effect in the dependence of the elastic constant on the spacer length of the compounds investigated was revealed. It was shown that the splay elastic constant for the nematic dimers increases with increasing length of the molecules.     

Dependence of Mesomorphic Behaviour of Methylene‐Linked Dimers and the Stability of the NTB/NX Phase upon Choice of Mesogenic Units and Terminal Chain Length

Twelve symmetrical dimeric materials consisting of a nonamethylene (C9) spacer and either phenyl 4‐(4′‐alkylphenyl)benzoate, phenyl 4‐(4′‐alkylcyclohexyl)benzoate or phenyl 4‐(4′‐alkylbicyclohexyl)carboxylate mesogenic units were prepared and their mesogenic behaviour characterised by POM, DSC and XRD. All of the materials exhibited nematic phases with clearing points in excess of 200 °C. Four compounds were found to exhibit the twist‐bend nematic phase, with one material exhibiting a transition from the N_TB phase into an anticlinic smectic ‘X’ phase. Across all three series of compounds the length of terminal chain is seen to dictate, to some degree, the type of mesophase formed: shorter terminal chains favour nematic and N_TB mesophases, whereas longer terminal aliphatic chains were found to promote smectic phases.     

Liquid crystal polymers containing macroheterocyclic ligands. III. Side chain liquid crystalline polymethacrylates containing mesogenic units based on diarylacetylenes and benzo-15-crown-5

The synthesis and polymerization of 4′-[4-ethynyl-1-(11-methacryloylundecan-1-yloxy) benzene] benzo-15-crown-5 ( 8 ), 4′-[4-ethynyl-4′-(11-methacryloylundecan-1-yloxy) biphenyl] benzo-15-crown-5 ( 15 ), 4′-[2-ethynyl-6-(11-methacryloylundecan-1-yloxy) naphthalene] benzo-15-crown-5 ( 24 ), and 4′-[2-ethynyl-6-(11-methacryloylundecan-1-yloxy)naphthalene]-5′-ethylbenzo-15-crown-5 ( 35 ) is described. The synthesis and characterization of 4′-[4-(4-ethynyl-1-(2-ethynyl-6-(6-hydroxyhexan-1-yloxy)naphthathalene)benzene]) benzo-15-crown-5 ( 29 ) is also presented. Both monomers and polymers were characterized for their mesomorphic behavior. 8 , poly( 8 ), and 15 are crystalline. Due to the insolubility of 15 , poly( 15 ) could not be synthesized. 24 is crystalline, while poly( 24 ) displays a monotropic nematic mesophase. 29 exhibits also a monotropic nematic mesophase. 35 is crystalline, while poly( 35 ) displays an enantiotropic nematic mesophase which is kinetically controlled due to its close proximity to the glass transition temperature.     

Non-symmetric chiral isoflavone dimers: synthesis,characterisation and mesomorphic behaviour

A new series of non-symmetric chiral isoflavone-based liquid crystalline dimers, α-(2-methylbutyl-4′-(4″-phenyloxy)benzoate)-ω-(3-(4′-decyloxyphenyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one-7-oxy)alkanes, with 3–12 carbon atoms in the alkyloxy spacer, have been synthesised. A pronounced odd–even effect for the phase transition temperatures upon varying the spacer length was observed. The short dimers exhibited monolayer smectic A (SmA) and smectic C (SmC*) phases while for longer homologues a chiral nematic (N*) phase was found. The temperature range of the nematic phase was broadened with elongation of the alkyl spacer. Stabilisation of the nematic phase resulted from competition between the monolayer and intercalated smectic structures. The SmA–SmC* phase transition was second order for all studied compounds with a cross over to the de Vries type behaviour for the shortest homologue.     

Twist-bend nematics,liquid crystal dimers,structure–property relations

ABSTRACT

One of the current challenges in liquid crystal science is to understand the molecular factors leading to the formation of the intriguing twist-bend nematic phase (N_TB) and determine its properties. During our earlier hunt for the N_TB phase created on cooling directly from the isotropic phase and not the nematic phase, we had prepared 30 symmetric liquid crystal dimers. These had odd spacers and methylene links to the two mesogenic groups; desirable but clearly not essential features for the formation of the N_TB. Here, we report the phases that the dimers exhibit and their transition temperatures as functions of both the lengths of the spacer and the terminal chains. In addition we describe the transitional entropies, their optical textures, the X-ray scattering patterns and the ²H NMR spectra employed in characterising the phases. All of which may lead to important properties of the twist-bend nematic phase.     

Preliminary communication Induction of the smectic phase in comb-shaped liquid crystalline ionogenic copolymers by hydrogen bond formation

Using a radical copolymerization of 4-(4-cyanobiphenyl-4-yloxy)butyl acrylate and acrylic acid, a number of new liquid crystalline ionogenic copolymers capable of hydrogen bonding were synthesized. The formation of hydrogen bonds results in an invariant temperature interval of existence for the LC state (up to 52mol% of acrylic acid) and a rather sudden replacement of the nematic phase by the SmA phase with increase in content of acrylic acid ( 35 mol%) in copolymers.