Novel liquid crystals based on [1]benzothieno[3,2- b ][1]benzothiophene

Four series of new [1]benzothieno[3,2- b ][1]benzothiophene derivatives have been synthesized. In the non-chiral series a SmA phase occurs, while the chiral series exhibits a rather wide antiferroelectric SmC * A phase just below the SmA phase. The SmA-SmC * A phase transition has been studied using DSC and dielectric spectroscopy. In the SmC * A phase the spontaneous quantities have been measured. The tilt angle shows a typical temperature dependence and the values of spontaneous polarization are rather moderate. The length of the helical pitch increases on increasing the length of the non-chiral alkyl chain.     

Novel ferroelectric liquid crystals based on fused thieno[3,2‐b]furan and thieno[3,2‐b]thiophene cores

Several series of new benzofused thieno[3,2‐b]furan‐ and thieno[3,2‐b]thiophene‐based derivatives have been synthesized and their mesomorphic properties investigated. All the studied compounds exhibit a SmC* phase with very wide temperature interval. Additionally, some types of the compounds show the cholesteric, SmA or blue phase. In the ferroelectric SmC* phase we evaluated physical properties of relevance for possible applications.     

Thermal properties of compressed expanded graphite: photothermal measurements

The thermal diffusivity and the thermal conductivity of compressed expanded graphite (CEG) samples were investigated by photothermal measurements in two geometries differing by a place of temperature disturbance detection. This disturbance can be detected on a surface opposite to the one at which the disturbance was generated (rear detection) or on the same surface (front detection). A measurement based on the rear detection allowed us to determine the effective thermal diffusivity of the sample, while the method with front detection gives the possibility of analysis of homogeneity of the sample. It is shown that the thermal diffusivity of CEG strongly depends on its apparent density. Moreover, CEG samples reveal anisotropy of the thermal properties. The thermal diffusivity in the direction parallel to the compacting axis is lower than the one in the direction perpendicular to it. The parallel thermal diffusivity decreases with growing apparent density, while the perpendicular thermal diffusivity significantly grows when the apparent density grows. The perpendicular thermal conductivity exhibits the same behavior as the perpendicular thermal diffusivity. The parallel thermal conductivity slightly grows with growing density and then reaches a plateau. The anisotropy of CEG samples grows with growing apparent density and vanishes for low-density samples. The photothermal measurement with front signal detection revealed that the CEG samples are non-homogeneous in the direction of the compacting axis and can be modeled by a two-layer system.     

Synthesis and EPR studies of porphyrazines with bulky substituents

Magnesium porphyrazinate substituted with eight 4-tert-butylphenylthio-groups on the peripheral positions has been synthesized by cyclotetramerization of 1,2-bis(4-tert-butylphenylthio)maleonitrile in the presence of magnesium butanolate. The metal-free derivative was obtained by its treatment with trifluoroacetic acid and further reaction of this product with copper(II) acetate, zinc(II) acetate and cobalt(II) acetate led to the metal porphyrazinates (M = Cu, Zn, Co). These new compounds have been characterized by elemental analysis, together with FT-IR, ¹H NMR, UV–Vis spectral data. By using EPR technique, room temperature paramagnetic properties of Cu(II) doped porphyrazine sample as powder and solution forms were measured. The first-derivative EPR signals taken from as powder and solution forms shows that the sample is axially symmetric. The trend g_∥ > g_⊥ > 2 indicates that the unpaired electron is located mainly in the _dx2-y2${\mathrm{d}}_{x^2-y^2}$ orbital (²B₁ as ground state).     

Laser-deposited thin films for butane detection

Thin films of ZnO and BaTiO₃, prepared by pulsed laser deposition (PLD), were studied as sensors for butane detection. The layers of ZnO, prepared on special substrates, were used as conductive-type sensors. The layers of ZnO and BaTiO₃, deposited on fused silica substrates, were tested by the optical m-line technique. Butane concentrations as low as 100 ppm were detected at room temperature.     

Synthesis,spectroscopic, electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical properties of metal free,manganese, and cobalt phthalocyanines bearing peripherally octakis-[4-(thiophen-3-yl)-phenoxy] substituents

Metal free (2), manganese (3), and cobalt (4) phthalocyanines, which are octa-substituted at the peripheral positions with [4-(thiophen-3-yl)-phenoxy] moieties, were synthesized and electrochemical properties were reported for the first time. The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, ¹H NMR, mass spectroscopy, and electronic spectroscopies. Electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical measurements exhibit that incorporation of the redox active metal ions, Co^II and Mn^IIIOAc, into the phthalocyanine core extends the redox richness of the Pc ring with the reversible metal-based reduction and oxidation couples in addition to the common Pc ring-based electron transfer processes. Presence of molecular oxygen in the electrolyte system causes to form π-oxo MnPc complexes, which alter the voltammetric and spectroelectrochemical responses of the complex. An in situ electrocolorimetric method has been applied to investigate the color of the electro-generated anionic and cationic forms of the complexes for possible electrochromatic applications.