Properties of the liquid crystals formed by certain 4'-n-alkylbiphenyl-4-yl 5-n-alkylthiophene-2-carboxylates

Thirty compounds, ten members of each of three homologous series of esters derived from 4-hydroxy-4'-n-octyl-, -nonyl-, and -decyl-biphenyl and the 5-n-alkylthiophene-2-carboxylic acids (methyl through to decyl homologues) have been prepared. The liquid crystal properties of these esters, which show extensive smectic polymorphism, have been investigated by thermal optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and miscibility studies. Four members of the corresponding 4-n-alkylbenzoates have also been prepared in order to compare their liquid crystal behaviour with the 5-n-alkylthiophene-2-carboxylate counterparts: both smectic and nematic thermal stability are higher for the 4-n-alkylbenzoates, by 30.6° and 36.8° C, respectively.     

Structure-property investigation of 2- and 3-thienylacrylates bearing laterally fluorinated azobenzene moieties

The synthesis, transition temperatures and structure-property relationships of a variety of thiophene-containing azobenzene esters derived from either 3-(2-thienyl)acrylic acid (series I, IV, VI, VIII, X and XII) or 3-(3-thienyl)acrylic acid (series II, V, VII, IX, XI and XIII) and appropriate fluoro- and non-fluoro-substituted 'azophenols' are reported. For comparative purposes, the non-heterocyclic counterparts, i.e. cinnamates (series III), were also prepared and are reported. All 70 final esters are mesomorphic, exhibiting the nematic phase alone. Their mesomorphic properties are dependent on the disposition of the terminal thiophene moiety. In general, 3-thienyl-substitution gives thermally more stable compounds than 2-thienyl-substitution. The influence of mono- (series IV, V, VI and VII) and di-lateral (series VIII, IX, X, XI, XII and XIII) fluoro-substitution on mesomorphic properties is investigated in detail. Lateral fluorination lowers mesophase thermal stability and its extent is dependent on the number and disposition of the lateral fluoro-substituents. Di-lateral fluorination across the long molecular axis is more detrimental to mesophase thermal stability than along the long molecular axis.     

High-frequency generation in two coupled semiconductor superlattices

We theoretically show that two semiconductor superlattices arranged on the same substrate and coupled with the same resistive load can be used for a generation of high-frequency periodic and quasiperiodic signals. Each superlattice involved is capable to generate current oscillations associated with drift of domains of high charge concentration. However, the coupling with the common load can eventually lead to synchronization of the current oscillations in the interacting superlattices. We reveal how synchronization depends on detuning between devices and the resistance of the common load, and discuss the effects of coupling and detuning on the high-frequency power output from the system.     

Effect of Pr-Ca substitution on the transport and magnetic behavior of LaMnO3 perovskite

The effect of simultaneous substitution of a fluctuating cation and a divalent cation in LaMnO₃ perovskite modifies the properties of the material to exhibit large valence colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) effect. A good example of these properties is (La_1−2x Pr _x Ca _x )MnO₃ (LPCMO) type CMR material. In this communication it is reported that, with the increase in x (for x=0.1, 0.15, 0.2), the T _c varies between 100 and 120 K with improvisation in metal-insulator transition. Interestingly, resistance increases with x from few hundred ohms to few kilo ohms with corresponding decrease in the unit cell volume. The results of the studies using X-ray diffraction (XRD), electrical resistivity, magnetoresistance and ac susceptibility measurements on LPCMO samples for understanding the structural, transport and magnetic properties are discussed in detail.     

Liquid crystals for holographic optical data storage

A tutorial review is presented to inform and inspire the reader to develop and integrate strong scientific links between liquid crystals and holographic data storage, from a materials scientist's viewpoint. The principle of holographic data storage as a means of providing a solution to the information storage demands of the 21st century is detailed. Holography is a small subset of the much larger field of optical data storage and similarly, the diversity of materials used for optical data storage is enormous. The theory of polarisation holography which produces holograms of constant intensity, is discussed. Polymeric liquid crystals play an important role in the development of materials for holographic storage and photoresponsive materials based on azobenzene are targeted for discussion due to their ease of photo-reversion between trans- and cis-states. Although the final polymer may not be liquid crystalline, irradiation can induce ordered domains. The mesogens act in a co-operative manner, enhancing refractive indices and birefringences. Surface relief gratings are discussed as a consequence of holographic storage. Cholesteric polymers comprising azobenzene are briefly highlighted. Irradiation causing cis-trans-isomerisation can be used to control helix pitch. A brief mention of liquid crystals is also made since these materials may be of future interest since they are optically transparent and amenable to photo-induced anisotropy.     

A stereochemically well-defined rhodium(III) catalyst for asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of ketones

[reaction: see text] A rhodium(III) catalyst for asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of ketones has been designed. The incorporation of a tethering group between the diamino group and the cyclopentadienyl unit provides extra stereochemical rigidity. The catalyst is capable of enantioselective reduction of a range of ketones in excellent ee using formic acid/triethylamine as both the solvent and the reducing agent.     

Langmuir-Blodgett film based on MEH-PPV for cholesterol biosensor

Cholesterol oxidase (ChOx) has been immobilized onto conducting poly[2-methoxy,5-(2′-ethyl-hexyloxy)-1,4-phenylene vinylene] (MEH-PPV)/stearic acid (SA) Langmuir-Blodgett film transferred onto octadecanethiol (ODT) modified gold plate. The ChOx/MEH-PPV/SA LB film bioelectrode exhibits has been characterized by FT-IR, contact angle, and atomic force microscopy. The response of the ChOx/MEH-PPV/SA LB film bioelectrode carried out using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) studies reveal linearity from 1.29 to 12.91 mM of cholesterol concentration and response time as 30 s. This ChOx/MEH-PPV/SA bioelectrode exhibits values of correlation coefficient as 0.9939, standard deviation as 0.0029 μA and limit of detection as 1.66 mM. UV-visible spectrophotometer studies reveal that 5.2 × 10⁻³ U of ChOx are actively working per cm² area of ChOx/MEH-PPV/SA LB film bioelectrode and this bioelectrode is thermally stable upto 55 °C with reusability of about 60 times.     

Photoinduced macroscopic chiral structures in a series of azobenzene copolyesters

A study of the propagation of elliptically polarized light and the resulting formation of macroscopic chiral structures in a series of azobenzene side-chain copolyesters, in which the morphology is varied from liquid crystalline to amorphous, is reported. Real-time measurements are presented, showing the dynamic behavior of the photoinduced rotation of the polarization ellipse in the different samples. The relationship between the ellipticity of the recording light and the linear birefringence induced is studied. A numerical solution that takes into account the influence of the photoinduced linear dichroism on the light propagation through the samples is presented. Received: 10 June 2002 / Revised version: 26 July 2002 / Published online: 15 November 2002 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +45-4677/4588, E-mail: lian.nedelchev@risoe.dk RID="**" ID="**"Permanent address: Department of Chemistry and Physics, The Nottingham Trent Unversity, Clifton Lane, Nottingham NG11 8NS, England