几类非常规液晶材料的研究进展

本文综述了液晶二聚体、多爪型液晶及香蕉形液晶等几类非常规液晶材料的研究进展。结合笔者近几年的研究积累,着重介绍:(1)液晶二聚体的分子结构与液晶态结构及液晶二聚体所特有的奇偶效应与近晶多形性;(2)多爪型液晶的分子结构与液晶态结构的特点及由于兼有棒状分子与盘状分子的结构特点而具备的特殊的相变性质;(3)香蕉形液晶的分子结构与液晶态结构及香蕉形液晶所特有的手性与极化序。在介绍各类液晶材料的特点及研究热点的同时,围绕分子结构与液晶态结构的关系这一主题,深入讨论了各种液晶材料形成特殊分子排列及表现出特殊物理性质的机理。     

苯并菲盘状侧链液晶聚合物的大分子工程

盘状液晶聚合物兼具盘状液晶的光电性能和聚合物的柔韧性以及优异的成膜加工性能,有望发展成为新一代先进有机聚合物柔性光电功能材料.本文介绍苯并菲盘状侧链液晶聚合物的研究进展,主要结合我们研究组的工作,重点评述采用受控/活性自由基聚合方法可控合成这类侧链液晶聚合物以及对分子量效应和间隔基长度影响等基本问题的阐明.我们采用可逆加成-断裂链转移(RAFT)聚合第一次成功实现了分子量窄分布的苯并菲聚丙烯酸酯侧链盘状液晶聚合物的可控制备.首先提出盘单元局部簇集的分立短柱堆积(DCS)模型,合理解释了聚合度20左右出现的显著分子量效应,尤其揭示并提出了盘状侧链液晶聚合物的正耦合效应(PCE)理论,即短间隔基的较强耦合作用更有利于其有序柱状相的形成,与棒状侧链液晶聚合物经典的柔性长间隔基去耦合理论形成鲜明对照,补充了缺失的理论短板.基于这些原则,我们设计合成的丁氧基苯并菲聚丙烯酸酯侧链盘状液晶聚合物,经飞行时间谱(TOF)测试,表现出比文献报道值高1~2个数量级的载流子迁移率.进一步在手性客体分子掺杂诱导组装形成单手性螺旋结构聚合物复合物,以及拓扑受限环状聚合物和嵌段共聚物的受控制备等方面开展了比较系统的大分子工程实践.盘状侧链液晶聚合物的可控制备及其显著不同于棒状液晶聚合物体系的一些基本特征的阐明,为这类重要有机聚合物半导体材料的理性设计与可控合成提供理论指导,也为加速推进其光电器件化应用奠定基础.     

点击化学合成盘-棒-盘状液晶三聚体

本文设计并合成了一系列盘-棒-盘状液晶三聚体.此类三聚体由两个相同的苯并菲盘状介晶基元和一个联苯棒状介晶基元通过CuI-NEt3体系催化端基炔和端基叠氮化合物的点击反应连接形成.该三聚体结构通过核磁、红外和高分辨质谱表征;介晶性通过偏光显微镜(POM)、差示扫描量热法(DSC)和X射线衍射(XRD)进行了研究.结果显示:此类液晶三聚体均为室温液晶,呈现四方柱状相(Colr).连接3个介晶基元的柔性间隔基的长度对化合物的相转变温度具有明显影响.     

三聚磷腈为核的A3B3六杂臂偶氮苯星型聚合物的合成及其热致液晶行为研究

通过聚乙二醇单甲醚钠盐(MPEG-Na)和4-甲氧基-4′-(6-羟基己氧基)偶氮苯钠盐(AZO-Na)与六氯三聚磷腈的分步取代反应,合成了含偶氮苯基团的A3B3六杂臂星型聚合物[NP(MPEG550)(AZO)]3和[NP(MPEG1100)(AZO)]3.采用傅里叶红外光谱(FT-IR)、核磁共振谱(1H-NMR)和凝胶渗透色谱(GPC)手段确证了聚合物的基本结构,所得两种聚合物为接近单分散的多杂臂星型聚合物.采用热分析(DSC)和热台偏光显微镜(POM)研究了两种星型聚合物的热转变行为.结果表明,[NP(MPEG550)(AZO)]3具有可逆的热致液晶转变行为(TS-N=60.5℃;TN-I=104.7℃),为双向性液晶聚合物.而对于[NP(MPEG1100)(AZO)]3,观察不到液晶相转变行为,[NP(MPEG1100)(AZO)]3聚合物中柔性PEG链段含量过高可能导致其偶氮苯链段难局部有序而不能呈现液晶相转变.     

一类含萘环结构的聚酯酰亚胺液晶聚合物的结构与性能研究

利用Higashi芳香聚酯直接缩聚法的原理,采用分步投料的方法,以N,N′-1,6-亚己基-双苯偏三酸酰亚胺二酸(IA6)、6-羟基-乙-萘甲酸(HNA)和4,4′-二羟基二苯酮(DHBP)为单体原料,合成了一系列聚酯酰亚胺共聚物.用核磁共振(NMR)、差热分析(DSC)、偏光显微镜(PLM)、广角X射线衍射(WAXD)、热重分析(TGA)等手段对所合成的聚酯酰亚胺的液晶行为、结构以及热性能进行了表征.研究结果表明,当HNA投料量占单体总投料量高于33mol%时,所得聚合物均呈明显的向列型热致液晶特性.但是,此类液晶聚合物仅在升温过程中出现液晶的相转变,而在降温过程中并未观察到液晶的相转变行为.由DSC结果分析可知,此类聚合物具有较高的玻璃化转变温度(Tg)和较低的熔融温度(Tm),有望成为一类既具有较低加工温度又有较高使用温度的液晶聚合物材料.     

具有不同柱状结构的苯并菲盘状液晶化合物的合成及自组装

合成了3种含有不同长度烷基链的苯并菲盘状液晶化合物; 通过1H NMR 和 MALDI-TOF MS对其结构进行了表征; 利用差示扫描量热法(DSC)、热台偏光显微镜(POM)和小角X射线散射实验(SAXS)对3种液晶化合物的自组装行为进行了研究. 结果表明, 烷基链的长度对苯并菲盘状液晶化合物自组装结构的影响显著. 柔性链为辛基的苯并菲盘状液晶化合物自组装成六方柱状液晶相; 柔性链为十二烷基的化合物自组装成倾斜柱状液晶相; 而柔性链为十六烷基的化合物则未形成液晶相.     

手性聚甲基丙烯酸酯液晶聚合物的合成及相行为的研究

手性聚甲基丙烯酸酯液晶聚合物的合成及相行为的研究向前，张纪宇，张树范（中国科学院化学研究所北京１０００８０）关键词手性液晶聚合物，相行为手性侧链液晶聚合物在侧链中含有不对称碳原子的末端基，使聚合物显示Ｓｔ相．Ｓ？相层中的分子呈倾斜排列而产生自发极化．...     

具有超级阻隔特性的液晶聚合物封装材料研究进展

液晶聚合物对小分子如水汽、氧等具有超级阻隔特性,因而其作为封装材料的使用日益受到人们的重视.本文概述了液晶聚合物结构对聚合物阻隔性能的影响,总结了小分子在液晶聚合物中的两种主要传输模型.目前广泛认同的模式是小分子在液晶相中不能渗透,聚合物中无定形区域或液晶相边界区的存在是液晶聚合物能够发生渗透的主要原因.接着总结了液晶聚合物的自由体积、液晶相态及分布对小分子在液晶聚合物中渗透行为的影响.小分子在液晶聚合物中的传输符合溶解-扩散机理.文章还对高阻隔性的测试新方法以及近年来液晶聚合物作为阻隔封装材料的应用情况作了介绍.最后分析了液晶聚合物作为阻隔材料使用存在的问题及超级阻隔液晶聚合物封装材料的发展趋势.     

含手性三联苯腰接型液晶聚乙炔的合成及其“甲壳效应”

设计、合成了一种新单体,并由[Rh(nbd)Cl]2/Et3N(nbd =2,5-降冰片二烯)催化聚合反应制备了一种具有较高相对分子质量(质均相对分子质量为30300)的含手性三联苯液晶聚乙炔PAM3OCO(TPh)(OR*)2{一[(CH=C(CH2)3OCO-terphenyl(OR*)2]n—,R*=(S)-2-甲基丁基}.由于手性基团和三联苯液晶基元的引入,单体具有互变手性近晶C相,而聚合物则呈现互变的手性近晶A相液晶行为.三联苯液晶基元以重心位置连接于聚合物主链并围绕主链所产生的“甲壳效应”赋予了聚合物很高的热稳定性(356℃)、发光性能和聚集诱导增强发光特性.其薄膜状态下的发光强度明显大于其在稀溶液状态下的发光强度,且内量子效率和外量子效率分别为0.214和0.023.紫外光激发下,聚合物在液晶状态下的发光强度明显优于溶液和薄膜状态,并且发光谱带发生了红移.     

含侧链盘状苯并菲和棒状偶氮苯的二嵌段液晶共聚物的可控合成及其光物理性质

分别通过可逆加成-断裂链转移（RAFT）聚合和原子转移自由基聚合（ATRP）结合叠氮-端炔基大分子点击反应,制备了一系列不同聚合度和不同嵌段比例的基于侧链苯并菲TP盘状液晶基元和偶氮苯Azo棒状液晶基元的盘棒杂化二嵌段共聚物。采用核磁共振氢谱（¹H NMR）、凝胶渗透色谱（GPC）、差示扫描量热分析（DSC）和正交偏光分析（POM）对盘棒杂化二嵌段共聚物的组成结构、相对分子质量和液晶相行为进行了表征。偶氮苯嵌段较短的共聚物P（TP₆）₄₀-b-P（Azo）₁₀,主要表现出占优势嵌段TP盘状液晶聚合物的热转变温度与相行为。而偶氮苯嵌段较长的共聚物P（TP₆）₁₀-b-P（Azo）₄₀和P（TP₆）₄₀-b-P（Azo）₄₀则更多体现出类似Azo棒状侧链液晶聚合物的相行为和光响应特性。小角/广角X射线散射（SAXS/WAXS）分析证实了Azo嵌段较长的嵌段共聚物薄膜尤其经退火处理后呈现层状结构,倾向于平行基底取向排布的苯并菲诱导偶氮苯平躺沿着平行基底方向排列而显著减少了光吸收,经紫外及可见光的辐照后光吸收显著增大,其中盘状嵌段较长的P（TP₆）₄₀-b-P（Azo）₄₀对比响应增幅尤其明显。这种盘棒杂化二嵌段共聚物薄膜所表现出的特殊光物理性质及其快速光响应-回复特性,加深了对其相互作用的理解,可望为设计合成新的光响应材料提供参考依据。     

The liquid crystal properties of symmetric and non-symmetric dimers based on the azobenzene mesogenic group

A novel system of symmetric and non-symmetric dimers containing azobenzene groups has been synthesized and studied in an attempt to understand further the molecular origins of the intercalated smectic phases. For the non-symmetric dimers, the lack of symmetry was derived solely from the differences in length of the two terminal alkyl chains. Both the spacer and terminal chain lengths were varied. The spacer length was found to exert a profound influence on the clearing temperatures of these materials and a large odd-even effect was observed for the series. The smectic A phase stability was observed to increase with the terminal chain length, yet decrease with increasing spacer length. X-ray diffraction has revealed the structure of the smectic A phase of both the symmetric and non-symmetric azobenzene dimers to be of the monolayer type and not intercalated. The existence of the intercalated phase has previously been explained in terms of either a charge-transfer interaction, or by an electrostatic quadrupolar interaction. However, it has been thought that it may also be the result of an excluded volume or space filling constraint. For the non-symmetric liquid crystal dimers described here, a charge-transfer interaction should be minimal, as should the stabilization from the quadrupolar interaction between the two mesogens. However, it appears that some sort of specific interaction is required to stabilize the intercalated structure.     

The liquid crystal properties of symmetric and non-symmetric dimers based on the azobenzene mesogenic group

A novel system of symmetric and non-symmetric dimers containing azobenzene groups has been synthesized and studied in an attempt to understand further the molecular origins of the intercalated smectic phases. For the non-symmetric dimers, the lack of symmetry was derived solely from the differences in length of the two terminal alkyl chains. Both the spacer and terminal chain lengths were varied. The spacer length was found to exert a profound influence on the clearing temperatures of these materials and a large odd-even effect was observed for the series. The smectic A phase stability was observed to increase with the terminal chain length, yet decrease with increasing spacer length. X-ray diffraction has revealed the structure of the smectic A phase of both the symmetric and non-symmetric azobenzene dimers to be of the monolayer type and not intercalated. The existence of the intercalated phase has previously been explained in terms of either a charge-transfer interaction, or by an electrostatic quadrupolar interaction. However, it has been thought that it may also be the result of an excluded volume or space filling constraint. For the non-symmetric liquid crystal dimers described here, a charge-transfer interaction should be minimal, as should the stabilization from the quadrupolar interaction between the two mesogens. However, it appears that some sort of specific interaction is required to stabilize the intercalated structure.     

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.     

1,2-Propanediol-linked chiral symmetric and non-symmetric liquid crystal dimers containing trifluoromethyl

Four symmetric and non-symmetric chiral liquid crystal dimers containing trifluoromethyl groups, termed as TFBA-PD-TFBA, UEBBA-PD-TFBA, UEBA-PD-TFBA and UEA-PD-TFBA, respectively, have been synthesised and characterised. UEA-PD-TFBA exhibited chiral nematic phase, whereas the other three dimers displayed chiral smectic A phase. X-ray diffraction (XRD) has revealed the structure of the smectic A phase for TFBA-PD-TFBA to be intercalated, whereas that for UEBBA-PD-TFBA and UEBA-PD-TFBA to be monolayer and interdigitated, respectively. In addition, the weaker peak corresponding to a shorter layer spacing was observed for UEBBA-PD-TFBA and UEBA-PD-TFBA. Considering the results of XRD measurements and computer simulations, the structural model corresponding to the shorter layer spacing is assigned as horseshoe-like shape. The absence of smectic behaviour for UEA-PD-TFBA reveals that the weaker aromatic–aromatic interactions cannot stabilise the smectic A phase.     

Shape‐Persistent,Sterically Crowded Star Mesogens: From Exceptional Columnar Dimer Stacks to Supermesogens

Hexasubstituted C₃‐symmetric benzenes with three oligophenylenevinylene (OPV) arms and three pyridyl or phenyl substituents are shape‐persistent star mesogens that are sterically crowded in the center. Such molecular structures possess large void spaces between their arms, which have to be filled in condensed phases. For the neat materials, this is accomplished by an exceptional formation of dimers and short‐range helical packing in columnar mesophases. The mesophase is thermodynamically stable for the pyridyl compound. Only this derivative forms filled star‐shaped supermesogens in the presence of various carboxylic acids. The latter do not arrange as dimers, but as monomers along the columnar stacks. In this liquid crystal (LC) phase, the guests are completely enclosed by the hosts. Therefore, the host can be regarded as a new LC endoreceptor, which allows the design of columnar functional structures in the future.     

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

ABSTRACT

The synthesis and characterisation of two new sets of non-symmetric liquid crystal dimers is reported, the 1-(4-substitutedazobenzene-4′-yloxy)-6-(4-cyanobiphenyl-4′-yl)hexanes (CB6OABX) and 1-(4-substitutedazobenzene-4′-yloxy)-6-(4-cyanobiphenyl-4′-yloxy)pentanes (CBO5OABX). The terminal substituents are methyl, methoxy, butyl, butyloxy, nitrile and nitro. All the CB6OABX dimers exhibit twist-bend nematic (N_TB) and nematic (N) phases. The CBO5OABX dimers also all show an N phase but only the butyl and butyloxy homologues exhibit the N_TB phase. The transitional behaviour of the non-symmetric dimers is compared to that of the corresponding symmetric dimers, the 1,5-bis(4-substitutedazobenzene-4′-yloxy)pentanes (XABO5OABX) and either 1,7-bis(4-cyanobiphenyl-4′-yl)heptane or 1,5-bis(4-cyanobiphenyl-4′-yloxy)pentane. The XABO5OABX dimers all show a nematic phase and in addition, the butyl homologue exhibits a smectic A phase. The difference in transitional behaviour between the CB6OABX and CBO5OABX dimers is attributed to the difference in their molecular shapes arising from different bond angles between the para axis of the cyanobiphenyl unit and the first bond in the spacer. Specifically, the all-trans conformation of a CBO5OABX dimer is more linear than that of the corresponding CB6OABX dimer. Differences within each set of dimers are attributed to changes in the average molecular shape and the strength of the mixed mesogen interaction on varying the terminal group. Crystal structures are reported for CB6OABOMe, CBO5OABNO₂ and MeOABO5OABOMe.     

On the structure of binary mixtures of non-symmetric liquid crystal dimers: the alpha-(4-cyanobiphenyl-4-yloxy)-omega(4-alkylanilinebenzylidene-4-oxy) alkanes

Liquid crystal dimers, in which two mesogenic groups are linked by a flexible spacer, exhibit a rich smectic polymorphism for both symmetric and non-symmetric dimers which differ in the nature of the mesogenic groups. For example, smectic phases having monolayer, interdigitated and intercalated structures have been discovered. We have extended our studies of such systems to binary mixtures in an attempt to understand the origin of the different phase structures at the molecular level. The dimers studied include non-symmetric systems differing in the parity of the spacer and in the length of the terminal chains; for comparison we have also studied a mixture of symmetric dimers differing solely in the parity of the spacer. We have constructed the phase diagrams for the various mixtures and found that for certain systems the smectic phases exhibited by either one or both components can be destroyed. To investigate the local structure of the nematic phase for mixtures in which a smectic A phase is eliminated from the phase diagram we have determined their orientational order using NMR and ESR spectroscopy. To provide more direct information on the local structure an X-ray diffraction study was undertaken on certain of the mixtures.     

Synthesis and properties of non-symmetric liquid crystal dimers containing a cholesteryl moiety

A series of non-symmetric liquid crystal dimers having cholesteryl and 4-trans-(4-n-alkylcyclohexyl)phenoxy groups were synthesized by condensation of cholesteryl ω-bromoalkanoates with appropriate 4-trans-(4-n-alkylcyclohexyl)phenols. The structures and thermal phase behaviour of the dimers were characterized using IR, ¹H NMR and mass spectroscopy, elemental analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, polarizing optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction measurements. Their thermal phase behaviour is significantly different to that of other cholesterol-based liquid crystal dimers. All of these liquid crystal dimers exhibit low phase transition temperatures. The relationships between their properties and chemical structures of these new dimers are discussed.     

Synthesis and mesomorphism of diacetylene-bridged triphenylene discotic liquid crystal dimers

Connecting two discotic mesogens via a spacer not only stabilizes the columnar mesophase but also leads to the formation of glass columnar phase, and therefore improves the physical properties of discotic liquid crystals as organic semiconductor. Here, we report the synthesis of eight diacetylene-bridged triphenylene discotic liquid crystal dimers, [C18H6(OCnH2n+1)4(OMe)O2C-C8H16-C≡≡ C-]2, 3(n), (n = 4-8), [C18H6(OC6H13)5O2C-C8H16-C≡≡ C-]2, 6 and [C18H6(OC6H13)5O-(CH2)m-C≡≡ C-]2, 8(m), (m = 1, 3) by Eglinto...     

Dynamic molecular movements and aggregation structures of lipids in a liquid state

This paper discusses the molecular conformations and the liquid structures of triacylglycerols (TGs) and fatty acids in their melts. Three models for liquid state ordering have been proposed for TG melts to date: the smectic liquid crystal model, the nematic liquid crystal model, and the discotic model. To completely resolve the liquid structure of TGs, further research is required. However, some information on the molecular level has been obtained for fatty acids that are relatively simple compounds. The combination of various spectroscopic and thermodynamic measurements revealed that the hydrogen-bonded dimers of fatty acids are units of intermolecular and intramolecular movements in the liquids and in non-polar solvents. The dimers that construct the clusters resemble the smectic liquid crystal and determine the physicochemical properties of the liquid of the fatty acid. Cholesterol stabilizes the clusters, while ethanol destroys them. Self-diffusion and neutron diffraction measurements revealed that two kinds of fatty acids exist in their binary liquid mixture exist as the homodimers composed of same species.