Optical Rotatory Power in the Isotropic Phase of Four Cholesteryl Esters

Recent theoretical work by numerous authors has indicated that pretransitional properties of the isotropic phase are highly dependent on the chirality of the nearby ordered phase. To test this aspect of the theories, we present results on the optical rotatory power in the isotropic phase for a series of four cholesteryl esters of varying chirality. The most important finding is that the separation between the first and second order transition temperatures decreases with an increase in chirality. However, the results of a recent experiment which claimed to present evidence for strong coupling between the structural modes of the ordered phase are not substantiated by the new measurements reported here.     

Reversible LED controlled optical activity of a cholesteric liquid crystal layer

Abstract

A thin layer of the photosensitive cholesteric liquid crystal possessing a high value of the optical activity is studied. Reversible change in the optical activity controlled by two light emission diodes (LEDs) with different emission wavelengths is applied for information recording. The behavior of this structure under exposure to UV and blue light is investigated. A smooth decrease in optical activity caused by the UV light resulting in a change in the color of the structure between crossed polarizers is obtained. The reverse process occurs under exposure to the blue light. On the basis of the obtained results, two methods of optical information recording in such a layer have been demonstrated.     

Inversion of the Temperature Field in Optical Crystals

This article is devoted theoretical and experimental researches of temperature fields which are formed in area semi‐transparent, diffusely transmitting and scattering boundary of two optical environments. It is revealed, that thus can arise non‐monotonic or at certain conditions completely an inverse temperature field. The phenomenon of inversion of a stationary temperature field is revealed theoretically and subsequently is experimentally confirmed. The specific conditions of occurrence of the phenomenon of inversion are determined. During the crystal growth process behind the front of crystallization there can be a congestion of impurities or micro‐bubbles which are grasped by the moving front of crystallization. It results in occurrence diffusely transmitting and scattering boundary on which the radiating thermal flux going from the melt is dissipated in a growing crystal. In turn under the certain conditions it could result in non‐monotonic of temperature field in area of phase boundary and even in full inversion. The experimental equipment was developed and results of experimental measurements which completely confirm theoretical conclusions are given. The described phenomenon could be meet in growing of such optical crystals as sapphire, ruby, fluorides etc. It is specified, that the similar conditions can arise as well on boundary of solid‐gas and liquid‐gas.     

Optical Rotatory Dispersion Measurements of the Liquid Crystalline Blue Phases in Thick Layers

The results of optical rotatory dispersion (ORD) measurements in liquid crystalline blue phases (BP) are reported for pure compounds and mixtures. They have been performed on polycrystalline samples (thick layers). Two features distinguish their spectra from those obtained from liquid single crystals:

(1) The magnitude of the rotation is much smaller, and

(2) no sharp anomalous ORD region is present.

The spectra possess a weak, broad anomalous region. Their sign and wavelength dependence follows the sense and pitch of the cholesteric helix. ORD experiments with mixtures of the same cholesteric esters with a nematic substance yield results typical of well oriented samples. The spectra exhibit larger rotation angles and a significantly smaller anomalous region.     

Detection of Photoemission of Electrons into Anthracene Crystals by Studying Recom ination Radiation

Evidence for photoemission of electrons from a calcium contact into anthracene crystals is presented. It is based on the observation of recombination radiation resulting from mutual annihilation of photoinjected electrons with holes which are supplied by an ohmic counter-electrode. The method avoids spurious effect's due to optical release of trapped electrons. The problem of photoemission of electrons from alkali-metals into anthracene crystals is discussed.     

Time evolution of cholesteric fingers of the second species in an electric field

Different growth modes of isolated cholesteric fingers of the second species (CF‐2) in an electric field at voltages near a coexistence line (V₂) between cholesteric and nematic mesophases are in detail described. Videomicroscopy and computer image analysis were used for investigation of the pattern in polarized light. It is shown how a drift, a lengthening and a shape of fingers depend on the voltage at which the growth sets in and three typical scenarios are distinguished. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Isotopic and Optical Studies of the Decomposition of Crystalline Dibenzoyl Peroxide

Mass spectral analysis of volatile products from thermolysis or photolysis of a solid solution of dibenzoyl peroxide (BPO) and 4.4′-dideutero BPO shows that most phenyl benzoate is formed intramolecularly, while most biphenyl is formed intermolecularly, presumably by radical-molecule reactions. The strong visible dichroism in uv-irradiated BPO crystals appears to be due to selective scattering of light polarized along [010], not to the selective absorption which would have indicated an oriented product with a strong visible chromophore. Thermal development of the dichroism may be due to radical chain reactions. Studies on selective decarboxylation of BPO molecules using plane polarized light are discussed in terms of the birefringence of crystalline BPO.     

Infrared Linear Dichroism of Nematic Solutions I. Orientation of Guest Molecules in Nematic Hosts

The orientational order and the biaxiality of some mono-substituted benzenes in namatic liquid crystals have been determined from infrared linear dichroism measurements. The experimental results are in good agreement with the theoretical predictions of the mean field theory.     

Observation of Beam Self-Induced Transition from Positive to Negative Optical Refraction in Nematic Liquid Crystals

We demonstrate that light refraction at a straight interface between an isotropic dielectric and a nematic liquid crystal can change from positive to negative depending on power. The phenomenon relies on the reorientational response and the all-optical rotation of the optic axis, causing in turn variations in walk-off and beam self-steering.     

Design of Optical Directional Couplers Made of Polydimethysiloxane Liquid Crystal Channel Waveguides

We present numerical simulations of a directional coupler based on three-dimensional waveguides made of a nematic liquid crystal, acting as the waveguide core, infiltrated in polydimethysiloxane channels. Modeling is based on the combination of minimization of Oseen-Frank energy of the liquid crystal molecules with a beam propagation algorithm. Design of the coupler waveguides is optimized to minimize coupling lengths and maximise efficiencies. Such components can be made at low cost on flexible plastic substrates and can be also integrated with optofluidic devices for biomedical applications.     

Optical diffraction by using electrically-controlled spatially patterned nematic pentylcyanobiphenyl films under static electric field

ABSTRACT

Diffractive electro-optics of electrically-induced spatially periodic texture patterns (namely, wide-formed stationary parallel stripes) in planarly-aligned films of the nematic liquid crystal 4-n-pentyl-4′-cyanobiphenyl (5CB) is examined under static electric field in view of its practical application. The longitudinal textural domains electrically-induced with well defined threshold and spatial period have flexo-dielectric nature and differ from the usual flexoelectric stripe distortion, as well as from the electroconvective domains of frequency-dependent morphology. The low-voltage-controlled grating effect through the flexo-dielectric domains can be useful for nematic diffractive optics.     

Optical Studies on Smectic-Isotropic Phase Transition Behavior of Two Thermotropic Liquid Crystals

The binary mixture of two compounds, viz., Cholesteryl laurate (CL) and diethyl 4, 4′-azoxy benzoate shows the cholesteric and smectic phases sequentially when the specimen is cooled from its isotropic phase. Refractive indices, birefringence, and optical transmittance have been measured by the optical technique. With the help of measured data, the macroscopic ordered parameter has been discussed. The temperature dependence of these parameters has also been discussed.     

Change of the Prenematic Order in the Isotropic Phase Close to the Isotropic–Nematic Phase Transition with Increasing Aerosil Nanoparticles Density

The influence of the hydrophilic and hydrophobic aerosil nanoparticles density on the formation of the prenematic order close to the isotropic – nematic (I–N) phase transition is presented. The lowering of the activation energy, with the increase of aerosil nanoparticles density, suggests a change of the prenematic order in the isotropic phase. The temperature dependence of the static dielectric permittivity for 4–n–pentyl–4′–cyanobiphenyl (5CB) exhibits an anomaly near the I–N phase transition. With the increase of aerosil density, a substantial modification in the anomaly of the static permittivity was observed in the isotropic phase. Indicated changes are different for hydrophilic and hydrophobic aerosil as a result of different surface interaction between nematic molecules and aerosil nanoparticles.     

Studies of Specific Adsorption Sites for Sodium Ion and Water on the Interface of Mixed Micelles of Novel Type II Lyomesophases

Novel aqueous type II lyotropic mesophases that align in magnetic fields have been synthesized for binary and ternary mixtures of amphiphiles. A system in which major components of the micelle bilayer are decyltrimethylammonium and dodecanoate ions is an aligning mesophase from 100% to 35% dodecanoate, but replacement of the cationic amphiphile with hexadecyltrimethylammonium facilitates the extension to aligning mesophases up to 100% replacement of the dodecanoate ions. A study of sodium and deuterium quadrupole splittings observed in their nuclear magnetic resonance spectra, confirms and extends a three site adsorption theory for sodium ion in the mixed head group interface. The first site is associated with more strongly hydrated ions and head groups and involves adjacent dodecanoate head groups, the second is not so strongly hydrated and involves one dodecanoate group while the third is a weakly bound water at - N(CH₃)⁺ groups and a sodium remote from the interface layer in close to average isotropic motion.

Mixed detergent mesophases of type II, which spontaneously align in the field, have also been synthesized from variable mixtures of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide and decylammonium chloride and from mixtures of potassium dodecanoate and sodium decylsulphate. In the mixed cationic system the sodium quadrupole splittings are always low but water is tightly bound to the -NH₃ ⁺ head group. In the anionic detergent mixture sodium appears about as strongly bound to dodecanoate and decylsulphate head groups. In most of the mixed mesophases some decanol is required (maximum 25% of the bilayer) in order to render the desired type II mesophase stable over a range of mixtures of the charged detergents. Specific site adsorption for sodium and water, peculiar to different head groups renders the effect of the added decanol as primarily a convenient diluent in the bilayer to preserve mesophase integrity.     

GeS/MoS2异质结电子结构及光学性能的第一性原理研究

以MoS₂、GeS为代表的二维层状材料在光学、电学等方面表现出优异的物理性能。如何将两者的优良性能结合,同时获得具有新的协同功能的复合材料对电子器件的发展和应用具有重要意义。本文采用密度泛函理论的第一性原理计算方法,对GeS/MoS₂异质结的电子结构及光学性质进行了系统研究,并探索了界面间距、应变和电场对异质结电子结构和光学性能的影响。研究结果表明,GeS/MoS₂异质结是Ⅱ型能带排列,该能带排列有利于光生电子-空穴对的分离。进一步研究发现,通过应变和电场等手段可以实现对GeS/MoS₂异质结能带排列及光吸收系数的有效调控。该研究结果表明GeS/MoS₂异质结在光催化、光电器件等领域具有潜在的应用,为设计与制备GeS/MoS₂相关的光电器件提供了理论指导。     

Influence of temperature variation on field effect transistor properties using a solution-processed liquid crystalline semiconductor,C8BTBT

In this study, we used a LC semiconductor, C₈BTBT, solution (e.g. 0.1 wt % in heptane) for forming an organic semiconductor layer by casting method, and fabricated bottom-gate/bottom-contact type FETs. The FETs mobility was determined 0.17 cm² V^?1 s^?1 which was comparable to that determined by time-of-flight technique in a sandwich type cell at room temperature. We have investigated the surface morphology and the influence of temperature variation on FET properties. The LC FET mobility was kept below 60°C and drastically decreased after heat stress above 100°C irreversibly.     

La3Ga5SiO14晶体电子结构及光学性质的第一性原理研究

采用基于密度泛函的第一性原理平面波赝势法对La3Ga5SiO14晶体基态的几何参量、能带结构、态密度和光学性质进行了系统的研究.优化了La3Ga5SiO14晶体中原子的内部坐标,利用精确计算的能带结构、态密度和电荷密度等值线分析了晶体的吸收谱、介电函数、折射率,计算结果与实验符合较好,为La3Ga5SiO14晶体材料的分子设计与应用提供了理论依据.     

Influence of Naphthalene Moiety on Mesomorphism

Compounds containing naphthalene moiety are synthesized and the liquid crystalline properties studied by texture observations. The mesomorphic properties of these compounds are compared with related compounds to understand the influence of broad units such as naphthalene on mesomorphism. It is observed that there is a limit to which the end alkoxy group can be extended in a mesogen. The method of preparation, and properties of these compounds are given.     

Ge掺杂β-Ga2O3晶体的发光性能研究

采用浮区法(FZ)生长Ge掺杂β-Ga2O3晶体,利用XRD和Raman光谱研究了掺杂对晶体结构的影响.透射光谱测试表明,随着Ge离子掺杂浓度增加,Ge∶ β-Ga2O3晶体光学带隙增大.在4.67 eV紫外光激发下,Ge∶ β-Ga2O3晶体的发光强度与β-Ga2O3晶体相当,发光衰减时间比β-Ga2O3晶体更快.