Effect of optical purity on the critical heat capacity at the smectic-A-(chiral)-smectic-C transition in an antiferroelectric liquid crystal

High resolution ac calorimetric measurements have been carried out near the smectic-A-chiral-smectic-C phase transition in the antiferroelectric liquid crystal 4-(1-methylheptyloxycarbonyl)phenyl 4(')-octyloxybiphenyl-4-carboxylate (MHPOBC). Data on samples with different optical purities have been analyzed in detail using a renormalization-group expression with corrections-to-scaling terms. The chiral-smectic-C(alpha)-chiral-smectic-C phase transition is first order, while the smectic-A-chiral-smectic-C(alpha) phase transition is second order. A direct smectic-A-chiral-smectic-C phase transition, which occurs in near-racemic mixtures, was found to be quasitricritical and weakly first order. This implies that the smectic-A-smectic-C transition in the racemate locates at a special point where four critical lines intersect.     

氢键诱导液晶的DSC和变温红外光谱研究

制备了两个分别基于4,4’-联吡啶(BPy)和丙基反式环己基苯甲酸(PCBA)以及BPy和丙基反式双环己基甲酸(PCCA)的氢键液晶复合物(PCBA-BPy和PCCA-BPy),结合使用偏光显微镜(POM),用差示扫描量热(DSC)和变温傅里叶变换红外光谱对它们的中间相性能和分子间氢键的热稳定性进行了表征。结果表明,这两个氢键复合物都具有由于分子间氢键作用而导致的近晶相,但它们中存在的氢键作用却不相同,在PCBA-BPy中,温度变化时,发生氢键结合的羰基的吸收峰的位置仅在发生晶型转变时有突变,而在PCCA-BPy中,温度变化时,其羰基的吸收峰的位置则基本不发生突变。另外,当温度高于它们的清亮点时,这两个氢键液晶复合物的分子间氢键都发生部分分解。     

Photon transmission technique for studying multiple phase transitions in a liquid crystal

A photon transmission technique was used to monitor the multiple phase transitions in a 4-butoxyphenyl4(')-declyoxybenzoate (BOPDOB) liquid crystal. Drastic decreases in the transmitted photon intensity (I) were attributed to the sequential phase transitions in BOPDOB upon cooling. In this paper, it is assumed that the order parameter rho is proportional to the transmitted photon intensity. The isotropic-nematic and nematic-smectic-A transitions were observed and found to be of first order. It was observed that the smectic-A-smectic-C and smectic-C-smectic-G transitions are second order. It was found that for the smectic-A-smectic-C transition, critical exponent crosses over from beta=0.513+/-0.006, which is consistent with mean-field theory, to beta=0.35+/-0.009, which is consistent with heliumlike behavior, as the Ginzburg criterion predicts. The critical exponent for the smectic-C-smectic-G transition was found to be beta=0.703+/-0.001. Transition temperatures were established at each phase transitions and found to be 84.92 degrees C, 74.85 degrees C, 52.96 degrees C, and 33.03 degrees C for isotropic-nematic, nematic-smectic-A, smectic-A-smectic-C and, smectic-C-smectic-G transitions, respectively.     

Hall effect and conduction anisotropy in the organic conductor (TMTSF)2PF6

Both the Hall effect and the ab(')-plane conduction anisotropy are directly addressing the unconventional normal phase properties of the Bechgaard salt (TMTSF)2PF6. We found that the dramatic reduction of the carrier density deduced from recent optical data is not reflected in an enhanced Hall resistance. The pressure and temperature dependence of the b(')-direction resistivity reveal isotropic relaxation time and do not require explanations beyond the Fermi liquid theory. Our results allow a coherent-diffusive transition in the interchain carrier propagation, however the possible crossover to Luttinger liquid behavior is placed at an energy scale above room temperature.     

Theoretical study on the transition properties of AlF

Potential energy curves of the X$^{1}\Sigma ^{+}$ and A$^{1}\Pi $ states of the AlF molecule are studied through the combination of the multi-reference configuration interaction (MRCI) approach and Davidson corrections (MRCI$+$Q). The AWCV5Z basis set is employed in the calculations. The transition dipole moments (TDMs) of the A$^{1}\Pi \leftrightarrow {\rm X}^{1}\Sigma^{+}$ transition are explored based on the AWCV5Z basis set and (4, 2, 2, 0) active space. The Schrödinger equation is solved via the LEVEL 8.2 program, and the vibrational levels and rotational constants of the X$^{1}\Sigma^{+}$ and A$^{1}\Pi $ states are calculated. It is shown that the AlF molecule has high diagonal Franck-Condon factors ($f_{00}=0.9949$ and $f_{11}=0.9854$) and large Einstein coefficients for the transition of A$^{1}\Pi {(\nu }'=0)\leftrightarrow {\rm X}^{1}\Sigma^{+}{\rm (\nu }'=0)$. In addition, the radiative lifetimes of the vibrational levels are close to 10$^{-9}$ s for the A$^{1}\Pi $ state. The line intensities of the A$^{1}\Pi {\rm (\nu }'=4-15)\leftrightarrow {\rm X}^{1}\Sigma^{+}{\rm (\nu }'=0)$ transitions are also calculated. The calculated TDMs and transition probabilities in this work are credible and provide some guidance for the study of similar transitions, particularly for exploring interstellar space.     

Low-temperature susceptibility of the noncentrosymmetric superconductor CePt3Si

We report ac susceptibility measurements of polycrystalline CePt(3)Si down to 60 mK and in applied fields up to 9 T. In a zero applied field, a full Meissner state emerges at temperatures T/T(c) < 0.3, where T(c) = 0.65 K is the onset transition temperature. Though transport measurements show a relatively high upper critical field B(c2) approximately 4-5 T, the low-temperature susceptibility chi(') is quite fragile to the applied field, with chi(') diminishing rapidly in fields of a few kG. Interestingly, the field dependence of chi(') is well described by the power law 4pichi(') + 1 = (B/B(c))(1/2), where B(c) is the field at which the onset of resistance is observed in transport measurements.     

Novel optical and magnetic bistability and photoinduced transition in a one-dimensional halogen-bridged binuclear pt complex

In iodine-bridged binuclear Pt compounds, R(4)[Pt(2)(pop)(4)I]nH(2)O and R(')(2)[Pt(2)(pop)(4)I]nH(2)O (pop=P(2)O5H2-2), electronic structures on the PtPtI chains have been controlled between a diamagnetic charge-density-wave (CDW) state and a paramagnetic charge-polarization (CP) state by modification of the counterions (R, R') located between chains. In the R=(C2H5)2NH+2 compound, a pressure-induced CP to CDW transition with a drastic color change is identified. This transition is accompanied by a large hysteresis loop within which photoinduced transition between CDW and CP can be driven by selecting the excitation photon energy.     

Three-phase contact line energetics from nanoscale liquid surface topographies

We observed light-induced alignment of the nematic liquid crystal, 4, 4(')-n-pentylcyanobiphenyl (5CB), on a fused quartz. Irradiation of the adsorbed layer with polarized ultraviolet light produced homogeneous alignment in a 5CB-filled liquid crystal cell with the easy orientation axis perpendicular to the polarization direction. The measured anchoring energy increases with illumination up to 10(-4) erg/cm (2). Phase retardation and pretilt measurements confirmed near homogeneous alignment of the LC in a cell, while the polarization dependence of second harmonic generation suggested a near normal alignment of the adsorbed layer. We believe that light-induced rearrangement or phototransformation of the adsorbed layer causes the observed phenomenon.     

Two dimensional ordering and fluctuations in alpha(')-NaV2O5

X-ray diffraction measurements of Bragg and diffuse scattering associated with charge ordering in the inorganic compound alpha(')- NaV2O5 show a continuous phase transition at a temperature of about 33.1 K. Many of this material's properties suggest a spin-Peierls transition, as established in CuGeO3 and MEM(TCNQ)(2). We compare the order parameter as well as fluctuations in the order parameter in these materials, and conclude that alpha(')- NaV2O5 is dissimilar, and that the transition is two dimensional in nature, due to charge ordering associated with the fractional average valence at the vanadium site within the orthorhombic a- b plane.     

Thermal and Optical Properties of Some Hydrogen-Bonded Liquid Crystal Mixtures

Phase transition properties of the mixtures of hydrogen-bonded nematic liquid crystals (HBLC) 4-hexylbenzoic acid (6BA), 4-(octyloxy)benzoic acid (8OBA), and 4-(decyloxy)benzoic acid (10OBA) have been investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarize optic microscope (POM). The DSC and POM results clearly indicate the existence of smectic and nematic phase transitions in binary mixtures. The phase transition temperature values of 6BA/10OBA mixtures have clearly increased with increasing heating rate. The activation energies were calculated for the phase transitions of 6BA/10OBA liquid crystal (LC) mixture. The optical transmittance of these mixed hydrogen-bonded nematic liquid crystals was investigated in terms of temperature variations through electrooptic methods. The electrooptic experiments indicate that, while low in the nematic phase, the optical transmittance is very high at the nematic-isotropic phase transition. The transmitted light intensity values of 6BA/8OBA mixture are somewhat higher than those of other binary mixtures, 6BA/10OBA and 8OBA/10OBA, a result associated with the different alkyloxy chain lengths.     

Synthesis and phase transition studies on non-symmetric liquid crystal dimers: N-(4-(n-(4-(benzothiazol-2-yl)phenoxy)alkyloxy)-benzylidene)-4-chloroanilines

A new series of non-symmetric liquid crystal dimers N-(4-(n-(4-(benzothiazol-2-yl)phenoxy)alkyloxy)benzylidene)-4-chloroaniline containing benzothiazole and benzylideneimine units connected by a flexible alkyl spacer, –(CH₂) _n –, with n ranging from 4 to 12 in even parity have been prepared. All five members of this homologous series exhibit an enantiotropic nematic phase. The compounds with greater n of 8–12 exhibit both nematic and smectic phases upon cooling. A notable feature among this series is that for the member with n?=?10, the smectic–nematic transition is also present. The nematic–isotropic transition temperatures and associated entropy changes with respect to all compounds in this series exhibit a dramatic dependence on the length of the flexible spacer. A comparison of the transitional properties of this series with those of α-(4-benzylidenechloroaniline-4′-oxy)-ω-[4-(thiophene-2-carboxyl)benzylideneaniline-4′-oxy]alkanes reveals that replacing benzothiazole moiety at one side of the flexible alkyl spacer reduces the nematic–isotropic transition temperature.     

D+→η(')l+νl semileptonic decays in light-cone sum rules

We calculate the D→η transition form factor in light-cone sum rules by taking improved current correlators to avoid the pollution from the twist-3 wave function. We get consistent results of the D<'+> →η<'(')> l<'+>ν<,l> decays with the experimental data. By comparing the difference between the results of the branching ratios of D+ →η<'(')>l<'+>ν<,l> from a two-pole parameterization model and from a BZ parameterization model, we find that the two-pole model and the BZ model are comparably believable. One way is supposed for the determination of the η-η' mixing angle from the dependence of the branching ratios of D<'+> →η<'(')>l<'+>ν<,l> decays on the η-η' mixing angle.     

Synthesis and mesomorphic properties of nonsymmetric liquid crystalline dimers containing azobenzene groups

Four novel nonsymmetric dimers containing azobenzene mesogenic groups were synthesized. The nonsymmetric dimers compounds namely, ethyl 4-[(4-{4-(4-((4-nitrophenyl)diazenyl)phenoxy)alkyloxy}phenyl)diazenyl]benzoate were obtained from the alkylation of ethyl 4-[(4-(4-bromoalkyloxy)phenyl)diazenyl]benzoate with 4-[(4-nitrophenyl)diazenyl]phenol. The mesomorphic properties of the compounds were determined by DSC and polarizing optical microscopy. The first member of the series was nonliquid crystalline while all other homologues display nematic and smectic A phases. The trans-azobenzene groups of the dimers display a high-intensity π–π* transition at about 365 nm and a low-intensity n–π* transition at around 465 nm, therefore, photochromism can be achieved by the introduction of the azo linkage to the dimeric liquid crystalline molecules.     

‘Guest–host’ effect in liquid crystal mixtures

The most important goal of our research is to show the influence of the ‘guest’ (bent-core mesogen, 1,3-phenyldicarboxylatebis{4-[(4-octylbenzoyl)sulphanyl]phenyl} [IFOS8], banana-shaped liquid crystal [BLC]) on the ‘host’ (calamitic liquid crystal [CLC], (S)-(+)-1-methylheptyloxybiphenyl-(4-n-octylphenyl)thiobenzoate [MHOBS8]), on the stability and the destabilization of the antiferroelectric B2 and the ferroelectric smectic C* (SmC*) phases, and change of the temperature ranges of other phases in the binary liquid crystal mixtures. This work is focused on polymorphism of three new binary liquid crystal mixtures, exhibiting a ‘guest–host’ (guest liquid crystal–host liquid crystal [GH-LC]) effect. MHOBS8 has, among others, a ferroelectric SmC* phase, and IFOS8 assumes the B2 phase with antiferroelectric properties. The observed properties of the mixtures, such as variation of the phase transition temperatures, spontaneous polarization, tilt angle and switching time, are characteristic of a ‘guest–host’ mixture. The influence of BLC on the character of the interactions within the CLC host is discussed, with particular attention paid to electro-optical properties of the GH-LC mixtures.     

Liquid-liquid phase transitions of phosphorus via constant-pressure first-principles molecular dynamics simulations

Pressure-induced phase transitions in liquid phosphorus have been studied by constant-pressure first-principles molecular dynamics simulations. By compressing a low-pressure liquid which consists of the tetrahedral P4 molecules, a structural phase transition from the molecular to polymeric liquid (a high-pressure phase) observed in the recent experiment by Katayama et al. [Nature (London) 403, 170 (2000)] was successfully realized. It is found that this transition is caused by a breakup of the tetrahedral molecules with large volume contraction. The same transition is also realized by heating. This indicates that only the polymeric liquid can stably exist at high temperature.     

Lighting object-based nondoped-type white organic light-emitting diode with N,N'-diphenyl-N,N'-bis(1-naphthyl)-(1,1'-benzidine)-4,4'-diamine as the chromaticity-tuning layer

We demonstrate a nondoped white organic light-emitting diode in which the blue, green, and red emissions are generated from 4,4(')-bis(2,2(')-diphenylvinyl)-1,1(')-biphenyl, tris(8-hydroxyquinoline)aluminum, and a submonolayer of 4-(dicyanomethylene)-2-t-butyl-6-(1,1,7,7- tetramethyl-julolidyl 9-enyl)-4H-pyran layers, respectively. A thin layer of N,N(')-diphenyl-N,N(')-bis(1-naphthyl)(1,1(')-benzidine)-4,4(')-diamine (NPB), which differed from the traditional hole-transporting layer, was introduced into the device. The thickness of this thin NPB layer was changed to tune the chromaticity and optimize the white color quality. The white device with a 3 nm chromaticity-tuning NPB layer gives the Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage-1931 xy coordinate of (0.327, 0.336), a color rendering index of 90.2, a maximum luminance of 19,096 cd/m(2), and a maximum current efficiency of 4.12 cd/A. The electroluminescence mechanism of the white device was also discussed.     

新型绿色磷光铱配合物的合成及其光物理性能研究

合成并表征了以2-苯基吡啶为第一配体,水杨酸及其衍生物为第二配体,以铱为内核的新型配合物(ppy)₂Ir(LX)(ppy=2-苯基吡啶,LX=水杨酸Sal、4甲基水杨酸MSal、4-三氟甲基水杨酸FSal)。对其分子结构、光物理性能及热稳定性进行了测试和分析。结果表明, 室温下在二氯甲烷溶液中(ppy)₂Ir(LX)(LX= Sal, MSal, FSal)的吸收峰分别在270, 370, 450及484 nm附近,其中前2个吸收峰应归属于第一配体2-苯基吡啶的1π—π*跃迁和水杨酸配体到2-苯基吡啶的电荷转移跃迁,在450及484 nm附近的吸收峰,应该归属于金属到配体的电荷转移(1MLCT和3MLCT)跃迁和配体3π—π*跃迁的混合;其PL发射峰最大波长分别为520,522,510 nm;(ppy)₂Ir(Sal)和(ppy)₂Ir(MSal)的发射主要来源于三重态3MLCT的辐射跃迁,而(ppy)₂Ir(FSal)的发射主要来源于水杨酸到2-苯基吡啶的电荷转移态的辐射跃迁,也有单重态1MLCT和三重态3MLCT的辐射跃迁的贡献。其量子效率分别为0.37,0.33,0.29,热分解温度为306～328 ℃。(ppy)₂Ir(LX)是一组热稳定性较好的高效有机磷光材料,可用于有机电致发光器件中。     

Mott Transition and Superconductivity in Quantum Spin Liquid Candidate NaYbSe_2

The Mott transition is one of the fundamental issues in condensed matter physics,especially in the system with antiferromagnetic long-range order.However,such a transition is rare in quantum spin liquid(QSL) systems without long-range order.Here we report the experimental pressure-induced insulator to metal transition followed by the emergence of superconductivity in the QSL candidate NaYbSe₂ with a triangular lattice of 4 f Yb³⁺ ions.Detail analysis of transport properties...     

Melting curve of 4He: no sign of a supersolid transition down to 10 mK

We have measured the melting curve of 4He in the temperature range from 10 to 400 mK with the accuracy of about 0.5 micro bar. Crystals of different quality show the expected T4 dependence in the range from 80 to 400 mK without any sign of the supersolid transition, and the coefficient is in excellent agreement with available data on the sound velocity in liquid 4He and on the Debye temperature of solid 4He. Below 80 mK, we have observed a small deviation from T4 dependence, which, however, cannot be attributed to the supersolid transition, because instead of decrease the entropy of the solid rather remains constant, about 2.5 x 10(-6) R.     

Comparative study of liquid-crystalline ordering in a monomer,linear polymer,and graft copolymer by the photon transmission technique

The photon transmission technique was used to study the phase transitions of a liquid crystalline acrylate monomer, 6-(4-cyanobiphenyl-4′oxy)hexyl acrylate (LC6), its homopolymer (PLC6) and its graft copolymer (GLC6) with polytetrahydrofuran grafts. The phase transitions were also confirmed by DSC and polarizing microscopy. We observed the phase transition sequence isotropic–nematic–smectic A–smectic C in the LC6 monomer. In PLC6 and GLC6 polymers, the nematic and smectic A phases appear dominant. The apparent nematic–smectic A transition is of first order in PLC6 and of second order in GLC6, with the transition temperature remaining the same. The effects of quenched random constraints introduced in GLC6 are consistent with the theory of quenched random interactions. The critical exponents were also evaluated.