Grain boundaries and stacking faults in a Pm3n cubic mesophase

A monodendron that over a broad temperature range self-assembles in quasi-spherical supramolecular aggregates organized on a thermotropic cubic Pm3n lattice was examined by TEM. Grain boundaries were found parallel to the (1 0 0) and (3 2 0) planes. In well annealed specimens, in which grain boundaries are rare, two types of stacking fault were numerous, suggesting their relatively low energy. In the original Pm 3n lattice and in the two stacking fault arrangements, the supramolecular aggregates are distorted to an oblate shape, which is likely to be favoured by a crowded microscopic interface between core and tail moieties. Symmetry and phase selection for the ordered arrangement of amphiphilic molecules is discussed.     

Study of the Pm3n space group of cubic mesoporous silica.

By using a Gemini surfactant, [C14H25N+(CH3)2-(CH2)2-N+(CH3)2C14H25]2 Br-(C(14-2-14)), with a short spacer group (s = 2) as structure-directing agent and sodium silicate as precursor, high-quality, ordered cubic mesoporous silica with space group Pm3n was prepared by the S+I-route (S = surfactants, I = precursor). The samples were characterized by small-angle X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and N2 adsorption-desorption. The results showed that the pore structure of the resulting mesoporous silica belonged to the cubic system (space group Pm3n). The unit-cell parameter of the cubic system was in the range of 8.81-9.14 nm. The high-quality cubic mesoporous structure was formed at molar ratios of C(14-2-14) to sodium silicate of 0.33:1 to 0.16:1 and a molar ratio of ethyl acetate to sodium silicate of 2:1. N2 adsorption-desorption curves revealed type IV isotherms and H1 hysteresis loops. The primary pore volume, and the most probable pore size according to the Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BJH) model, increased with increasing molar ratio of C(14-2-14) to sodium silicate.     

The cubic mesophase of analogous chiral and achiral hydrazine derivatives

The structures of the cubic mesophases of a chiral and an achiral hydrazine derivative have been investigated by means of X-ray diffraction experiments. As seen from the phase diagram of the binary system, both cubic phases are incompletely miscible which can be explained by the different space groups of the cubic lattices. In contrast to the isotropic liquid, the cubic phase of the chiral compound exhibits a considerable optical rotation indicating phase chirality.     

Three-dimensional mesoporous gallosilicate with Pm3n symmetry and its unusual catalytic performances

Three-dimensional, mesoporous-cage-type, GaSBA-1 materials with different n(Si)/n(Ga) ratios have been successfully prepared for the first time by using a low hydrochloric acid to silicon (n(HCl)/n(Si)) molar ratio in the synthesis gel by templating with cetyltriethylammonium bromide as the structure-directing agent in a highly acidic medium. The obtained materials have been unambiguously characterized in detail by several sophisticated techniques including X-ray diffraction (XRD), N(2) adsorption, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, elemental mapping, and (29)Si magic-angle-spinning NMR spectroscopy. XRD and nitrogen adsorption results reveal that the structures of the GaSBA-1 materials resemble that of SBA-1, which possesses a cubic, three-dimensional, cage-type structure with open windows. In addition, the specific surface area and the specific pore volume of the GaSBA-1 materials are much higher than those of the SBA-1 silica, which are very important for the catalytic applications. The amount of Ga cation in the SBA-1 silica framework has been found to play a critical role in controlling the morphology and the pore diameter of the materials. Finally, the catalytic activity in the tert-butylation of phenol with tert-butanol as the alkylating agent has been investigated and the results are compared with those of other mesoporous catalysts such as AlMCM-41, FeMCM-41, FeAl-MCM-41, and FeSBA-1. Moreover, the effect of various reaction parameters such as the reaction temperature, reactant feed ratio, and time-on-stream on the phenol conversion in the tert-butylation of phenol over GaSBA-1 catalysts has been demonstrated. Among the catalysts examined, GaSBA-1(17), in which the number in the parenthesis denotes the n(Si)/n(Ga) ratio, showed remarkable activity with a high conversion of phenol and selectivity to 4-tert-butylphenol; it was found to be superior over other mesoporous catalysts used in the study.     

Superstructure and stacking faults in hydrothermal-grown KBe2BO3F2 crystals

The structure of the hydrothermal-grown nonlinear optical crystal KBe₂BO₃F₂ was investigated. A new structure of the R3?c space group with cell parameters of a=4.422(1) Å and c=37.524(3) Å was obtained by powder X-ray diffraction and Rietveld refinement. The new structure is a 1×1×2 superstructure of the previously reported R32 structure with a different stacking sequence of (Be₂BO₃F₂)_∞ layers along the c axis. The relationship between the refined structure and the experimental results is discussed. A stacking fault mechanism is proposed for the formation of the superstructure as well as the nonuniformity of the hydrothermal-grown KBBF crystals.     

Solubilization of hydrophobic guest molecules in the monoolein discontinuous QL cubic mesophase and its soft nanoparticles

Hydrophobic bioactive guest molecules were solubilized in the discontinuous cubic mesophase (QL) of monoolein. Their effects on the mesophase structure and thermal behavior, and on the formation of soft nanoparticles upon dispersion of the bulk mesophase were studied. Four additives were analyzed. They were classified into two types based on their presumed location within the lipid bilayer and their influence on the phase behavior and structure. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), polarized light microscopy, cryogenic-transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM), and dynamic light scattering (DLS) were used for the analysis. We found that carbamazepine and cholesterol (type I molecules) likely localize in the hydrophobic domains, but close to the hydrophobic-hydrophilic region. They induce strong perturbation to the mesophase packing by influencing both the order of the lipid acyl chains and interactions between lipid headgroups. This results in significant reduction of the phase transition enthalpy, and phase separation into lamellar and cubic mesophases above the maximum loading capacity. The inclusion of type I molecules in the mesophase also prevents the formation of soft nanoparticles with long-range internal order upon dispersion. In their presence, only vesicles or sponge-like nanoparticles form. Phytosterols and coenzyme Q10 (type II molecules) present only moderate effects. These molecules reside in the hydrophobic domains, where they cannot alter the lipid curvature or transform the QL mesophase into another phase. Therefore, above maximum loading, excess solubilizate precipitates in crystal forms. Moreover, when type II-loaded QL is dispersed, nanoparticles with long-range order and cubic symmetry (i.e., cubosomes) do form. A model for the growth of the ordered nanoparticles was developed from a series of intermediate structures identified by cryo-TEM. It proposes the development of the internal structure by fusion events between bilayer segments.     

Mesomorphic imines and their complexes with rhenium(I): a cubic mesophase in a rod-like mesogen with perfluorinated terminal chains

A cubic mesophase is found in an extended rod-like mesogen in which the terminal chains are perfluorinated.     

Mesomorphic imines and their complexes with rhenium(I): a cubic mesophase in a rod-like mesogen with perfluorinated terminal chains

A cubic mesophase is found in an extended rod-like mesogen in which the terminal chains are perfluorinated.     

Liquid crystal character controlled by complementary discotic molecules mixtures: Columnar stacking type and mesophase temperature range

In this work, the mesophase properties were tuned via mixing two discotic molecules with structural complementarity. Compared with the liquid crystalline hexakis(n-hexyloxy)triphenylene(H6TP)materials(columnar hexagonal phase from 53 8C to 91 8C), mesophase types as well as phase transition temperatures varied with the introduction of crystalline hexaazatriphenylene derivative(PBH)molecules. The introduction of less than 33% amount of PBH disrupted the columnar hexagonal phase formed by H6 TP remarkably, followed by the decreased clearing temperatures of liquid crystals. As the PBH amount was further increased, the destroyed columnar hexagonal phase was turned into the columnar rectangular phase, in which H6 TP and PBH molecules together formed the columnar mesophase. The formation of new mesophase contributed to the enlarged mesophase temperature(from44 8C to 144 8C). We speculated that the alkyl chains interaction induced by the PBH component competed with the strong p–p stacking between H6 TP molecules, thus altering the liquid crystalline properties including mesophase types and phase transition temperatures.     

Grain boundaries as barrier for oxygen transport in perovskite-type membranes

Perovskite-type membranes of (Ba_0.5Sr_0.5)(Co_0.8Fe_0.2)O_3−δ (BSCF) and (Ba_0.5Sr_0.5)(Fe_0.8Zn_0.2)O_3−δ (BSFZ) were successfully prepared via liquid-phase sintering using BN as sintering aid. The obtained membranes were examined via powder X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and oxygen permeation experiments. It has emerged that the use of BN as sintering aid lowers sintering temperatures in order to obtain dense membranes with relative densities in the range of 93–96% as proven by the Archimedes method. It was further shown that the perovskite structure could be maintained after sintering with BN. Additionally, BN was completely removed from the sintered membranes. Investigation of the microstructure revealed that the average grain size of the membranes was influenced by the amount of BN added prior the sintering process. It was found that large amounts of BN effectively lower the average grain size. Oxygen permeation experiments have shown that the lower the average grain size the lower the oxygen permeation performance, particularly in the case of BSCF. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that no evidence for an amorphous layer or any other interfacial phase in the grain boundary is present.     

Computation of stacking and twin faults in varieties of cotton fibers using whole powder pattern fitting technique

The extent of stacking and twin faults has been estimated in different varieties of cotton fibers grown in the Karnataka State of India using wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) data. Further, the microstructural parameters such as crystal size 〈N〉 and lattice strain (g in %) have been determined by a whole powder pattern fitting technique developed by us. In all these cases we note that the stacking and twin faults are quite significant in determining the properties of cotton fibers and their microstructural parameters.     

Lamellar to inverted hexagonal mesophase transition in DNA complexes with calamitic, discotic, and cubic shaped cationic lipids

In this study, we report on the lipid tail molecular shape/size effect on the mesophase self-assembly behaviors of various cationic lipids complexed with double-stranded DNA. The molecular shape of the cationic lipids was tailored from rodlike (a cyanobiphenyl imidazolium salt) to discotic (a triphenylene imidazolium salt), and finally to cubic [a polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) imidazolium salt]. An increase in the cross-sectional area of the hydrophobic tails with respect to the hydrophilic imidazolium head induced a negative spontaneous curvature of the cationic lipids. As a result, a morphological change from lamello-columnar (L(C)(alpha)) phase for the DNA-cyanobiphenyl imidazolium salt (DNA-rod) and DNA-triphenylene imidazolium salt (DNA-disk) complexes to an inverted hexagonal columnar (H(C)(II)) phase for the DNA-POSS imidazolium salt (DNA-cube) complex was observed. The DNA-rod complex had a typical smectic A (SmA) L(C)(alpha) morphology, whereas the DNA-disk complex had a double lamello-columnar liquid crystalline phase. However, when the lipid tail changed to POSS, an H(C)(II) morphology was achieved. These morphological changes were successfully characterized by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. We expect that these liquid crystalline and crystalline DNA hybrid materials may become potential functional materials for various applications such as organic microelectronics and gene transfection.     

Organization of branched rod-coil molecules into a 3-D tetragonally perforated lamellar mesophase

Tetramerization of coil-rod-coil ABC triblock copolymers to a tetrabranched molecule induces an unusual 3-D tetragonally perforated layered liquid crystalline phase as an intermediate structure between 1-D lamellar and 2-D hexagonal columnar phases.     

Thermal behaviour under pressure of the thermotropic cubic mesogen 4'- n -alkoxy-3'-nitrobiphenyl-4-carboxylic acids

The thermal behaviour of members of a homologous series which exhibits the optically isotropic cubic phase, the 4'- n -alkoxy-3'-nitrobiphenyl-4-carboxylic acids having alkoxy chains containing 16, 20 and 22 carbon atoms (referred to as ANBC-16, -20 and -22, respectively) was investigated under pressures up to 200-400 MPa by high pressure differential thermal analysis. In the phase diagram of ANBC-16 obtained on heating, a triple point was estimated at 54 ±1 MPa and 205 ±1°C for the SmC, Cub and SmA phases. It was found that the X phase is formed on cooling under all pressures, while appearing on heating at high pressures above about 54 MPa. Thus the X phase appears monotropically between the SmA and Cub phases in the low pressure region and enantiotropically between the SmA and SmC phases under higher pressures. It is strongly suggested that the X phase is a columnar mesophase. For ANBC-20 and -22, the cubic phase tends to be destabilized with increasing pressure. The temperature region of the cubic phase of ANBC-20 becomes narrower with increasing pressure and a triple point for the SmC, Cub and I phases is estimated to be at about 309 MPa. On the other hand, the cubic phase of ANBC-22 is still observed at the highest pressure examined.     

Oriented cellulose films and fibers from a mesophase system

Cellulose mesophases were obtained by preparing concentrated solutions of cellulose (20–55%) in a mixture of N-methyl-morpholine N-oxide (MMNO) and water. The anisotropy depends on four interconnected parameters: the temperature of the solution which, in general, must be lower than 90°C; the concentration of cellulose which must exceed 20%; a water content such that the mole ratio water/anhydrous MMNO is smaller than unity; and the degree of polymerization of the dissolved cellulose. The anisotropic cellulose solutions can readily be oriented during extrusion or casting thus giving fibers or films which upon regeneration exhibit high orientation.     

Compatibility and mesophase separation in blends of α-helical polyglutamates

Blends composed of the α-helical polymers, poly-L-glutamates [(? NHC^αHRC′O? )_n, R = ? CH₂CH₂COO? (CH₂)_m(C₆H₅] (Lm) and the corresponding D enantiomers (Dm), have been studied by x-ray diffraction and viscoelastic measurements. Binary blends of L2, D2, L3, and D3 are compatible and form isomorphous mixed crystals at all compositions, whereas other pairs, with the exception of L1/D1, are incompatible. The demixing process is described for a ternary system consisting of L1, D3, and a diluent chloroform at 40°C. The phase diagram comprises four regions, I, IA, A, and AA, with increasing polymer concentration; I: isotropic, A: anisotropic, IA: I–A biphasic, and AA: A–A biphasic. The IA biphasic gap is greater in the ternary system than in the binary ones. The high-molecular-weight component (D3) is partitioned into the A phase in the IA region. The AA separation originates from incompatibility of the polymers. The phase behavior is discussed on the basis of the Abe-Flory theory by incorporating the polymer-polymer interaction parameter.     

An investigation of the dynamics of CH3I in a nematic mesophase by NMR linewidth analysis

Relaxation mechanism acting on CH₃I dissolved in a nematic mesophase were studied by linewidth analysis of ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra. Intramolecular and intermolecular dipolar interaction fluctuations were found to be the most important relaxation phenomena responsible for the line broadening.