Nonaqueous Lyotropic Liquid Crystals from Lecithin and Nonionic Surfactants

Lyotropic liquid crystals were prepared from mixtures of lecithin and nonionic surfactants with the general formula polyethylene glycol dodecyl ethers with no low molecular solvents being added.

The repeat distance in the structure was reduced with increased amount of the nonionic surfactant showing complete penetration of the surfactants between the lecithin molecules.     

Thermal stability and crystal structure of bis(1,2 ethanediol)zinc sulfate

Single crystals of the complex bis(1,2-enthanediol)zinc sulfate have been prepared. The crystal structure was determined by X-ray crystallography. Both 1,2-ethanediol (ethylene glycol) molecules chelate the zinc ion, the four glycolic oxygen atoms and the two oxygen atoms of the sulfate ion forming an octahedron around the zinc. Each sulfate ion is bonded to two zincs, forming an endless polymer chain. A hydrogen-bonding network between the ethylene glycol molecules and the sulfate ions is observed. On heating, the complex melts and decomposes, a polymeric structure of the thermal intermediate product is suggested.     

Molecular structures and crystal packings of 2-styrylquinoline and its derivatives

The crystal and molecular structures of five styrylheterocycles of the quinoline series are studied. All molecules are planar. The double bond in the ethylene fragment is essentially localized. In the molecule of 2-(4-methylstyryl)quinoline, the ethylene fragment is disordered by the bicycle-pedal pattern. In four of the five compounds, the crystal packings do not contain stacking dimers prearranged for the [2+2] photocycloaddition (PCA) reaction. In the crystal of 2-(3-nitrostyryl)quinoline, pairs of crystallographically independent molecules form stacking dimers. In a dimer, the ethylene fragments have a twist orientation, which is incompatible with the PCA reaction. An attempt to initiate a temperature-dependent process of bicyclepedal isomerization in the crystal and, as a consequence, the PCA reaction by means of simultaneous irradiation and heating of a single crystal is unsuccessful.     

Effect of alcohols additives on hydrothermal formation of magnesium hydroxide sulfate hydrate whiskers

Two different organic alcohols, ethylene glycol and 1, 2‐propanediol, were used in hydrothermal formation of MgSO₄·5Mg(OH)₂·2H₂O (MHSH) whiskers. Compared with the MHSH whiskers without alcohols, the crystallinity and defect of products were improved. It could also be observed that not only aspect ratio but also crystallinity and purity of the products were improved when 1, 2‐propanediol was used. A reasonable model was proposed to explain the growth process derived from the organic alcohol. In addition, the room temperature photoluminescence (PL) indicated that the spectrum intensity of MHSH whiskers used 1, 2‐propanediol was also significantly improved.     

Formation of the Liquid Crystal of a Surface-active Dye in Aqueous Methanol Solutions

The formation of the liquid crystal phase of a surface-active dye, p-octylphenol yellow amine poly(ethylene oxide), in aqueous methanol solutions has been examined by optical microscopy. Rodlike swarms appear at relatively low dye concentrations only slightly higher than the second critical micelle concentration. They develop into liquid crystal phase when the dye concentration is further increased. It takes some hours for the formation of a stripe-like texture characteristic of nematic liquid crystals, depending on the methanol content and dye concentration. The combination of the surface active-part and the azobenzene moiety would be responsible for the formation of the liquid crystal.     

Structure of sodium perchlorate·diethylene glycol

The crystal structure of the 2:1 sodium perchlorate · diethylene glycol complex has been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. It crystallizes in space group P2₁2₁2 with a = 7.853(3), b = 7.900(2), c = 10.120(2) Å and Z = 2. Both the sodium ion and the diethylene glycol molecule are disordered, and were modeled with partial site occupancy factors. One sodium position is 7-coordinate and the other is 8-coordinate. The sodium perchlorate ions pack in layers parallel to [100] and [010], with the glycol molecules in channels between layers.     

Molecular structures and crystal packings of 2-styrylquinoxaline derivatives

The crystal and molecular structures of 2-styrylquinoxaline derivatives with different substituents in the styryl fragment are determined. The degree of planarity of the molecules studied varies in a very wide range, from 1.7° to 33.5°. In the ethylene fragment, the double bond is essentially localized. The bicycle-pedal disordering of the ethylene fragment is found in the crystals of the methoxy and oxyacetyl derivatives of 2-styrylquinoxaline. None of the packings contains packing motifs favorable for the photocycloaddition (PCA) reaction with single crystal retention. The crystal packings of these compounds and that of 2-(4-methylstyryl)quinoxaline are characterized by a stacking motif of the head-to-head type, which eliminates the possibility of PCA taking place with single crystal retention but is suitable for this reaction in polycrystalline films. The crystal packing of 2-(3,4-dimethoxystyryl)quinoxaline does not contain elements with stacking interactions.     

Polystyrene Derivative Films for Liquid Crystal Alignment

We studied the alignment of liquid crystal molecules on rubbed, thin polymer films of polystrene and its derivatives. Liquid crystal molecules were aligned perpendicular to the rubbing direction, although the polymer main chains of rubbed films were oriented along the rubbing direction. The alignment of the liquid crystal depended on the choice of side phenyl groups of polystyrene derivatives, and the pretilt angle varied with the type and the position of the substituents that were introduced into the side phenyl groups. Homogeneous alignment for ferroelectric liquid crystal was obtained by using poly(NO₂ styrene), poly(p-OH styrene) and poly(4-vinylpyridine) films, which have relatively high β-dispersion and glass transition temperatures.     

Acousto-optic effect in a nematic liquid-crystal layer under the binary effect of sound and viscous waves

The optical effect in a liquid crystal cell containing a homeotropic layer of nematic liquid crystal (NLC) is analyzed. An NLC layer, located between crossed polaroids and opaque in the absence of external effect, is cleared after irradiation by an ultrasonic beam with a sharp spatial boundary. This enlightenment is suggested to be caused by the reorientation of crystal molecules in the acoustic flows that arise under the binary effect of the layer compression in the irradiated region and the viscous waves propagating from the layer boundaries. The flows were calculated taking into account the stress caused by the velocity convection and crystal structure relaxation. An expression is derived for the cell transparency, and the relative role of the convection and relaxation processes in the effect is determined.     

Crystal Structures of D-N-(2-Adamantyl)phenylglycinol and L-N-(2-Adamantyl)diphenylphenylalinol: Chiral Amino Alcohols Utilized as Ligands for Catalytic Asymmetric Hydroamination

Amino alcohols are important ligands for the asymmetric catalytic hydroamination of aminoallenes to form chiral pyrrolidines. Herein, we report the crystal structures of two chiral amino alcohols, D-N-(2-Adamantyl)phenylglycinol and L-N-(2-Adamantyl)diphenylphenylalinol, that function as ligands within transition metal complexes that catalyze the hydroamination of aminoallenes. Both molecules crystallize in the noncentrosymmetric orthorhombic space group P2₁2₁2₁. Inter- and intramolecular hydrogen bonding plays an important role in stabilizing each alcohol in the solid state in the absence of a transition metal. The presence of these hydrogen bonds has been verified by single crystal X-ray diffraction and their overall strength determined by computational methods.     

Macroscopic Alignment Control of Liquid Crystal Molecule in Optical Film for 3D Display

The optical film made of liquid crystal molecules can have useful anisotropic optical properties by controlling the alignment of molecules. In order to apply those films to commercial display, we have to know the way to control the thickness, appearance, refractive index, adhesion, and many properties in macroscopic scale. In this presentation, we show how can we control alignment of liquid crystal molecules in macroscopic scale and make the Film Patterned Retarder (FPR^TM) used in the polarization type stereoscopic 3D-displays.     

Influence of Additives and Surface Topography on the Alignment of Nematic Liquid Crystals

Observations of the influence of a simultaneous action of different surface topographies and polar or nonpolar additives in small concentration on the alignment properties of liquid crystal molecules are reported. The additive dependence of the threshold behaviour of planar aligned liquid crystal cells is also studied.     

Effect of Particle Size on Electro-Optic Properties of Liquid Crystal Devices Doped with γ-Cyclodextrin Stabilized Barium Titanate Nanoparticles

Barium titanate stabilized by γ-cyclodextrin nanoparticles were prepared by using a microwave reactor equipped with ultrasonic nozzle mixing at 240°C in a tetraethylene glycol solution of barium ethoxide and titanium ethoxide in the presence of γ-cyclodextrin. Particles in γ-cyclodextrin-stabilized BaTiO₃ nanoparticles had an average diameter of 2.1 nm and mainly distributed within the range of about 1 to 4 nm. The γ-cyclodextrin-stabilized BaTiO₃ nanoparticles were mixed with 4-cyano-4′-pentylbiphenyl at room temperature resulting in a liquid crystal sol of 4-cyano-4′-pentylbiphenyl. The response time of liquid crystal devices in the presence of γ-cyclodextrin-stabilized BaTiO₃ nanoparticles was faster than that in the absence.     

The Use of Azo Dyes in Guest-Host Displays

Azo dye molecules are cylindrically shaped, and therefore, due to their resemblance to liquid crystal molecules, would seem to be suitable for use in guest-host mixtures. The dichroic ratio of a dye in a given nematic host depends on the molecular length of the dye molecules, the order parameter of the liquid crystal host and its molecular dimensions. It is possible to obtain a guest-host mixture with an order parameter which is higher than that of the pure host. Lateral substitution of mono-azo dyes lowers the order parameter, whilst lateral substitution of the corresponding bis-and tris-azo molecules results in only a slight change in their order parameter.

The stability of these compounds to light is poor, and depends on the wavelength for maximum absorption, and on the host material. Whilst lateral substitution increases the fastness of azo compounds when used for textile dying, this is not the case when they are employed with liquid crystal mixtures. The kinetics of degradation are zero order in dye concentration.

It has been found that azo dyes are not in general suited to applications where prolonged exposure to sunlight may be encountered, e.g. watch applications.     

Optical Rotatory Power of a Cholesteric Liquid Crystal for Obliquely Incident Light Using Multiple Scaling

The axis of polarization of light propagating through a cholesteric liquid crystal rotates with the angular rotation per distance traversed termed rotatory power. The rotation is due to the helical array of the molecules rather than due to the individual molecules as is found, for instance, with light being propagated through a sugar solution. The De Vries model for rotatory power of a cholesteric liquid crystal is generalized using multiple scaling theory to include light traveling at an oblique angle to the pitch axis. The resulting expression is tested experimentally using a mixture of cholesteryl oleyl carbonate and cholesteryl chloride.     

Electrooptic behaviour of a nematic MBBA layer with a thick interfacial surfactant layer

The electro-optic behaviour of MBBA nematic layers with various surfactants added of anionic, cationic, zwitterionic and non-ionic character and a considerable amount (2wt% to 8 wt%) was studied. The formation of surface-induced flexoelectric domains in all cases clearly showed that the anchoring of the liquid crystal layers has been weak. Such a weak anchoring can be explained with the formation of a perioidc (in the most simple case sinusoidal) MBBA-surfactant interface boundary with a mutual penetration of the liquid crystal and surfactant molecules with some gradient.     

Synthesis and Mesomorphic Properties of New Columnar Liquid Crystal Containing 1,3,5-triiminebenzene with Pendant 1,3,4-thiadiazole Group

A novel discotic liquid crystal series based on 1,3,5-benzenetrisazomethine derivatives with three pendant 2-amino-5-(4′-n-alkoxy)phenyl-1,3,4-thiadiazole has been synthesized, which is the first columnar molecules containing 1,3,4-thiadiazole moiety exhibiting a discotic liquid crystal. The molecular structure of compounds was confirmed by FT-IR, ¹H-NMR, and mass spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The electron excitation properties of these compounds were investigated by UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. Their liquid crystalline properties were studied by polarizing optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. The formation of a columnar mesophase was found to be dependent on the number of methylene unit in alkoxy side chains.     

Orientational order of dissolved molecules in the nematic,smectic A and smectic B phases of 4-n-hexyloxybenzylidene-4′-n-hexylaniline

The orientational order S of a dichroic dye dissolved in a liquid crystal has been determined in the nematic, smectic A and smectic B phase of 4-n-hexyloxybenzylidene-4′-n-hexylaniline. The used method is based on the absorption measurement of unpolarized light in a homeotropic oriented liquid crystalline layer and in an isotropic layer. The orientational order of the dissolved molecules was compared with the order parameter of the liquid crystalline solvent.     

Theoretical Calculations on Hydroxybutyl 4-aroyloxybenzoates: Synthesis and Mesomorphic Properties of their H-bonded Complexes with Poly(4-vinylpyridine)

Important parameters of hydroxybutyl 4-aroyloxybenzoate ligands were calculated and correlations were made between theoretical and experimental results. In addition, supramolecular side-chain liquid crystalline polymers of the ligands with poly(4-vinylpyridine) were synthesized. Hydrogen bond formation was ascertained by Fourier tranform infra-red spectroscopy. The stabilities of the complexes were determined by thermogravimetric analysis. The mesomorphic behavior was investigated using differential scanning calorimetry, polarizing optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. Semiempirical study revealed that a ratio of ～1.2 in the lengths of flexible and rigid parts of the molecules is the most favorable for a wider liquid crystal (LC) temperature range.     

Growth Mechanism and Twinning of Sucrose Effected by Surface Adsorption Processes

Growth experiments with sucrose dependent on temperature and supersaturation of solutions were carried out to find the conditions for appearance of the three different growth types. Measurements of growth rates of {110} and {1 1 0} faces at 50°C and supersaturation c_s = 10% resulted in the known feature that in pure solutions a crystal grows faster in positive b-direction than in the negative one. Addition of raffinose stopped growth of {110}. In an electric field generated by 20 kV direct voltage (crystal orientation: negative pole of b-axis pointed towards the negative electric pole) the crystal grew in negative b-direction three times faster than in the positive one. In the presence of raffinose the growth rates in both directions become equal. If the crystal is turned by 180° in the solution (pure solution and in the presence of raffinose) the growth behaviour is the same as without an electric field. These results can be interpreted in such way that in pure solutions sucrose molecules adsorb to {1 1 0} (bonds exist between the fructose rings of molecules in liquid and solid phases) and that in presence of raffinose these molecules adsorb to {110} (bonds exist between glucose (solid) and galactose rings (liquid phases)). By the electric field the adsorption is hindered. The theory is in accordance with the fact that crystals situated in a suspension of the solution can intergrow with a host crystal in twin positions (in pure solutions on {1 1 0} and in the presence of raffinose on {110}).