Nematic-smectic a transition entropies in a homologous series

We have measured the nematic-smectic A transition entropies in the homologous series 4-n-alkoxybenxylidene-4′-phenylazoaniline. The results agree very well with the McMillan theory without the isotropic attraction between the molecules.     

Systematic studies on eight homologous series of supramolecular hydrogen bonded liquid crystals

Design, synthesis and characterization of hydrogen bonded liquid crystals (HBLC) formed by alkyloxy benzoic acids (referred as nOBA?:?ABOm) are discussed. Eight such homologous series of HBLC are synthesized with varying the carbon chain length from 5 to 12 referred as nOBA?:?ABOm. These complexes are characterized by polarizing optical microscope (POM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) studies. Phase diagrams of the individual series have been constructed from the data of POM and DSC respectively. The effect of the chain length on the phase formation is discussed. Thermodynamic evaluation of nOBA?:?ABOm homologues series has been carried out. It is observed that the entire eight homologous series possess thermodynamically equilibrium energy states. The results of phase variance influence of chain length, phase transitions and corresponding enthalpy values are discussed.     

热致型胆甾酯液晶的相变研究

使用偏光显微镜观察胆甾烯壬酸酯液晶的相变，发现在不同的温度变化条件下液晶相变过程是不同的．本文讨论了其变化规律．     

Characterization of phase transition in liquid crystals by voltaic potential difference

Our investigations show that the determination of voltaic potential differences is a useful method to characterize the phase transition N → I and I → N for a liquid-crystal (LC) mixture and for a phase transition from one liquid-crystalline phase into another. The ΔV/T curves show reversible as well as an irreversible behaviour. Moreover, the transition from the smectic into the nematic phase is demonstrated on liquid-crystalline polymers.     

Biphotonic effect-induced phase transition in dye-doped cholesteric liquid crystals and their applications

This work studies the biphotonic effect in samples that are cholesteric liquid crystals (CLCs) doped with azo-C5. The experimental results show that the photo-isomerization of azo-C5 not only changes the clearing point of the sample, but also shifts the reflection band that is associated with the planar texture. Additionally, azo dye-doped CLCs (DDCLCs) have bi-stable or tri-stable states, as determined by the ambient temperature. Photo-switching between these bi-stable/tri-stable states is systematically studied. The result indicates that photo-addressing one of these states (planar, focal conic, and isotropic states) using a low- or high-intensity Ar⁺ laser beam is feasible. The results thus obtained are used to fabricate a photo-rewritable DDCLC display.     

Self-diffusion of nematic liquid crystals in the isotropic phase near the nematic-isotropic transition

Self-diffusion coefficients of two nematic-liquid crystals, PAA and MBBA, were measured by the spin-echo technique over a temperature-range ≈30°C above the nematic-isotropic transition. For both systems, activation energies derived from such measurements agree fairly well those determined earlier from viscosity data.     

Determination of the liquid crystals phase transition temperatures using optical rotation effect

Using optical rotation effect, a sensitive, simple optical analytical system is developed for determining the phase transition temperatures of liquid crystals (LCs). When a monochromatic polarized light passes through LCs sample and analyzer, the light intensity changes with temperature. Especially, during the phase transition process, the intensity varies greatly due to optical rotation effect. The variation of light intensity versus variation of temperature curve shows the phase transition temperatures of LCs clearly. The phase transition temperatures of three cholesteric liquid crystals (ChLCs) and a nematic liquid crystals (NLCs) were detected by this method, and compared with those of the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarized light microscope (PLM) methods.     

Temperature features of stimulated radiation characteristics near structural phase transition points of crystals

Russian Physics Journal -     

Dynamic mechanism of the ferroelectric to antiferroelectric phase transition in chiral smectic liquid crystals

The temperature-induced phase transition between the chiral smectic phases, antiferroelectric (smectic-C(A)*) and ferroelectric (smectic-C*), is found to occur through solitary wave propagation. We measure the free energy, which shows a double well shape in the entire SmC(A)* temperature range and the global minimum is found to shift from the antiferroelectric order to the ferroelectric order at the transition temperature. However, any significant supercooling is not observed and the transition cannot be described by the first order Landau-de Gennes theory, where the double well potential exists only in a narrow range of temperatures. This implies that the SmC(A)*-SmC* transition can occur only nonhomogeneously through the solitary wave propagation which overcomes the high energy barrier between the two minima.     

Reentrant phase transitions in liquid crystals

A comprehensive review of the recent developments regarding the phenomenon of reentrant phase transitions (RPT) in liquid crystals is presented. In addition to liquid crystals this phenomenon has been observed in amazingly diverse systems. A critical assessment of the experimental investigations concerning single and multiple reentrances is given. A brief account of the theoretical efforts is also given. The article ends with the identification of the factors which impede the proper understanding of the phenomenon.     

Splay-splay transition in bistable nematic liquid crystals

The bistability of a nematic liquid crystal layer with the asymmetric directions of easy orientation and weak orientational anchoring is considered within the framework of the continuum theory. The feasibility of passive storage applications based on two differing states of lateral bending is demonstrated. Switching between these splay states does not require the motion of the domain walls and can be accomplished by the two-frequency control of the low electric field applied to the crystal.     

On a reentrant isotropic phase in disc-like liquid crystals

A binary mixture of two disc-like liquid crystals 2, 3, 7, 8, 12, 13-hexa-n-tetradecanoyloxy and 2, 3, 7, 8, 12, 13-hexa (4-n-dodecyloxybenzoyloxy) truxenes exhibits an isotropic phase above and below the temperature existence range of a columnar mesophase.     

Ferroelectric phase transition in SbSI type crystals

In this work Lorenz field coefficients F for SbSI type crystals are estimated. Also transverse and longitudinal frequencies (ω _T and ω _l) of optical vibrations are determined. From a study of these quantities it was concluded that a combination of F is an inadequate condition for ferroelectric phase transitions to take place. Taking the electronic structure, chemical bond model, electronic potential and condition ω _T—>0 into account, the phase transition in SbSI type crystals was investigated. The dependence of the electronic potential upon the composition of V-VI-VII crystals and mixed crystals has revealed the factors that change the phase transition temperature T _c and the dynamics of the soft mode.     

Photo-induced ionic-to-neutral phase transition in tetrathiafulvalen-p-chloranil crystals

Recent experimental results are reviewed of the transformation between ionic and neutral phases in tetrathiafulvalen-p-chloranil crystals, induced by exciting the electronic states of the crystal. Spectroscopic studies have revealed that N phase domains are formed in the ionic-host crystal only above threshold-excitation intensity in the case of charge-transfer excitation; the threshold intensity depends strongly on the wavelength. On the other hand, N-phase domains can be formed without threshold in the excitation intensity in the case of intra-molecular excitation. Also, femtosecond time-resolved study has shown the intensity-dependent dynamics of the N-phase domain formation, and revealed the presence of short-lived intermediate states prior forming the N-phase domain. The mechanism of the photo-induced phase transition in this crystal is discussed based on these results.     

Freedericksz transition in polymer-stabilized nematic liquid crystals

We have constructed polymer-stabilized nematic liquid crystals by photopolymerizing diacrylate monomers in the nematic phase. The orientation of the liquid crystal was controlled by the polymer network. We studied the Freedericksz transition in these systems. Experimentally we studied the transition by measuring the capacitance of the liquid crystal cells as a function of applied voltage. The transition was affected profoundly by the dispersed polymer network. The threshold was higher with shorter interpolymer network distance. Theoretically we studied the systems using a two-dimensional model in which the polymer networks were represented by parallel cylinders with random location. The interaction between the liquid crystal and the polymer network was described by the boundary condition imposed by the polymer network. By fitting the experimental data, we found that the polymer cylinders had diameters of a few submicrons, and a substantial amount of liquid crystal was trapped inside the cylinders.     

Changes in the optical and electrophysical properties of langmuir films of liquid crystals upon a ferroelectric phase transition

The adsorption isotherms of water molecules, spectra of diffuse reflection and of reflected-light polarization, and electrophysical properties of hyperfine films fabricated on the basis of liquid crystals have been studied. A structural phase transition was detected at a temperature of about 70°C; near the transition, features of light polarization, of the reflection coefficient’s behavior, and of the temperature dependence of the sample capacitance have been found. Hypotheses regarding the nature of the phase transition are proposed.     

Ferroelectric phase transition in methylammonium tetrachloroaluminate crystals

Methylammonium tetrachloroaluminate (MATCAl) crystal have been found to undergo a phase transition at 100 K and show ferroelectricity along the a-axis below 100 K down to at least 77 K. The temperature dependence of permittivity fulfills the Curie-Weiss law both in the paraelectric and ferroelectric phase. The results of permittivity and spontaneous polarization measurements indicate the phase transition to be the second-order.     

Mesomorphic behaviors of a series of heterocyclic benzothiazole-imine-ester-based liquid crystals

A series of new calamitic liquid crystals, 2-[4-(4-alkoxybenzoyloxy)benzylidenamino]benzothiazoles comprising a heterocyclic (benzothiazole) and two phenyl rings core system, terminal alkoxy chain, imine and ester linkers were prepared and characterized. This series comprises eight members wherein the members vary by the length of alkoxy chain (C_nH_2n+1O-, where n?=?4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18). Spectral analysis results were in conformity with the expected structure. Their thermotropic behaviors were studied by using differential scanning calorimetry, optical polarizing microscopy and powder X-ray diffraction techniques. A single mesophase (nematic) was observed for the first member of the series (n?=?4). As the alkoxy chain increased to n?=?6, 8, 10, 12, 14, the nematic phase appeared together with an additional SmA phase. When moving from n?=?16 until the highest member (n?=?18), the nematic phase disappeared and these compounds only exhibited a single mesophase (SmA).