State of Order in Liquid Crystalline Elastomers

The orientation behavior of crosslinked liquid crystal-line side chain polymers is determined by IR-dichroism measurements. In stretched samples the conformation of the polymer main chain and the chemical constitution of the rodlike side chain determine the position of the director in relation to the axis of stress. The order parameter S has the same temperature dependence and is of the same magnitude as in the corresponding uncrosslinked liquid crystalline polymers. The order parameter and the nematic to isotropic phase transformation temperature are independent of the applied mechanical stress under the experimental conditions (elongation up to 50%).     

Criteria of Color Contrast in a Nematic Liquid Crystal Display

Color contrast in a nematic liquid crystal display is defined experimentally. Liquid crystal cell shows a positive dielectric anisotropy and is operated in a tunable birefringence mode. Munsell color chips used as background color. Colorimetric data are shown in the 1976 CIE (L*, a*, b*) color scale. First, a predict equation of color shift induced by background color is derived and shows a good agreement with the result of experiment. Second, criterial of color contrast is established by taking into account the color shift. The values of criteria nearly coincide with that of psychophysical experiment by single-stimulur method, and the validity of criteria is confirmed.     

Surface Order Parameter and Polar Anchoring Energy in Nematic Liquid Crystals

The trends of temperature dependence of the surface order parameter and of the anchoring strength coefficient are theoretically evaluated in the Landau-de Gennes phenomenological theory for nematic liquid crystals. The cases of planar, homeotropic and tilted alignment at a planar limiting surface are considered. It is shown that the cases with surface order parameter greater than the bulk one or smaller than this can occur in function of the phenomenological coefficients in the surface free energy expression. The anchoring strength coefficient, W, diminishes when temperature approaches the nematic-isotropic point, after passing through a maximum in most of cases. The possibility of a non-zero anchoring strength at temperatures above the transition temperature is revealed. The obtained trends of W(T) describe well a large variety of experimental results from literature.     

Electrical and Optical Properties of Ferroelectric Liquid Crystals and Influence of Applied Pressure

Much larger dielectric constants and spontaneous polarizations are evaluated in the smectic-C phase of p-alkoxybenzylidene-p'-amino-2-chloropropyl-cinnamate (HOBACPC, OOBACPC and DOBACPC) which have dipole moments at the chiral part compared with those of p-alkoxybenzylidene-p'-amino-2-methylbutyl-cinnamate. In the mixture of D-DOBAMBC and L-DOBACPC with inverse chirality, the pitch of the helical structure is longer compared with those of original compounds. On the other hand, the dielectric constant and the spontaneous polarization of the compounds are nearly linearly dependent on the concentration of L-DOBACPC.

The phase transition temperature from smectic-A to chiral smectic-C phases in DOBAMBC decreases remarkably with the mixing of organic molecules (PAA, eicosane, etc.) but increases with applied pressure.

The threshold field of electro-optical effects (transmission increase, colour switching, memory effects) in DOBACPC and HOBACPC etc. is lower than that in DOBAMBC etc. in accordance with the increase of the spontaneous polarization in the former.     

Monte Carlo Study of Slot-waveguide Liquid Crystal Phase Shifters

Abstract

We present detailed Monte Carlo simulations of a simple model of a nematic liquid crystal slot waveguide shifter, investigating the effect of an applied electric external field. The simulations are based on the Lebwohl-Lasher lattice spin model with boundary conditions chosen to mimic the planar alignment as in Silicon Organic Hybrid waveguides and the homeotropic anchoring appropriate for Polydimethylsiloxane polymer walls. The external field is modeled by adding a term to the Hamiltonian which describes its coupling to the mesogenic molecules. We have investigated the effect of the external field on the optical transmission and the ordering across the cell.     

Photo Alignment and Patterning of Liquid Crystal Polymer Films and Optical Devices by Side-Chain Photopolymers

Prerequisite for virtually all nematic field-effects on which liquid crystal displays (LCDs) are based is stable, uniaxial surface alignment with defined bias tilt angle between the long liquid crystal (LC) axes and their display boundaries. Since the invention of the TN-LCD [1 Schadt, M., & Helfrich, W. (1972). Mol. Cryst. Liq. Cryst., 17, 355.[Taylor & Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]] in 1970 until recently this was achieved by confining liquid crystals between mechanically brushed surfaces [2 Cognard, J. (1982). J. Mol. Cryst. Liq. Cryst. Suppl. Ser., 1, 1–74. [Google Scholar]–4 Aoyama, H., Yamazaki, Y., Matsuura, N., Mada, H., & Kobayashi, S. (1981). Mol. Cryst. Liq. Cryst. Lett., 72, 127.[Taylor & Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]]. We have first shown in the 1990s that, non-mechanical, uniaxial, tilted and patterned LC-alignment is possible by anisotropic Van der Waals surface interactions [5 Schadt, M., Seiberle, H., & Schuster, A. (1996). Nature, 381, 212. US Patent (1995) US-6, 215, 539.[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]], namely by directional polymerization of photo-sensitive side-chain polymers films [5 Schadt, M., Seiberle, H., & Schuster, A. (1996). Nature, 381, 212. US Patent (1995) US-6, 215, 539.[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar], 6 Schadt, M., Schmitt, K., Kozinkov, V. & Chigrinov, V.G. (1992). Jpn. J. Appl. Phys., 31, 2155. US patent (1991) US 5,389,698.[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]] by linear polarized UV light. The LPP model is reviewed and its applications enabling high resolution multi-domain liquid crystal displays operated in transmission and reflection are discussed. Examples are given for optical retarders integrated into LCDs, anisotropic liquid crystal polymer (LCP)-films for 3D imaging, interference color filters, wide-view films and anisotropic polymer surface topologies.     

Comparative Study of the Thermal Dependence of the Birefringence and Order Parameter of Two nOCB Compounds

The optical properties, birefringence and order parameter of two alkoxycyanobiphenyls (nOCBs, where n = 5 or 8) have been studied as a function of temperature. The variation of orientational order parameter has been determined experimentally. Theoretical order parameter values have also been computed in the smectic range using McMillan potential and in the nematic range using Maier–Saupe potential and compared with the experimentally obtained values. The variations of polarizabilities with temperature have also been evaluated from density variation and birefringence studies.     

A Study of a Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal Using Second Optical Harmonic Generation

The phase-matched generation of the optical second harmonic was investigated in the chiral smectic C* phase of a classical ferroelectric liquid crystal (DOBAMBC). The phase-matching was achieved either by incidence angle or by temperature tuning. The temperature behaviour of the second order nonlinear susceptibility was studied.     

The Order Parameters of Some Nematic Liquid Crystals Measured by the Resonance Raman Effect and Its Relevance to the Nematic-Isotropic Phase Transition

The second and fourth order parameters of nematic MBBA and 5CB have been determined near the nematic-isotropic transition temperatures by means of resonance Raman measurements on β-carotene dissolved as an orientational probe. The limiting behaviour of the second order parameter of MBBA near the transition point has been investigated on the basis of its fluctuation, which is deduced from the 2nd and 4th order parameter values.     

Dynamics of the Reorientation of a Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal Under an Electric Field Studied by Time-Resolved Optical Waveguide Spectroscopy

Abstract

The dynamic structure and molecular reorientation of a ferroelectric liquid crystal induced by an alternating electric field have been investigated by time-resolved optical waveguide spectroscopy (TROWS) in which the transient waveguide mode patterns were recorded as a function of both time and angle of incidence of a probe beam. A ferroelectric liquid crystal, 4-(2S, 3S)-[2-chloro-3-methylpentanoyloxy]-4′-octyloxybiphenyl (3M2CPOOB) was utilized, which showed a fast response to an external electric field in the order of a microsecond. Under a high electric field, it forms the so-called bookshelf structure in which the director of 3M2CPOOB is tilted by 22.5° away from the smectic layer normal in the SmC* phase. Time-resolved waveguide mode patterns were successfully obtained with a time-resolution of 1.0 μs which enabled us to determine the transient features of dielectric tensor of 3M2CPOOB molecules in three dimensional coordinate system. A model that the molecular reorientation coupled with the layer buckling and the rotation around the cone was proposed from the quantitative analysis of the TROWS data.     

A Positive Contrast Guest-Host Display Using a Liquid Crystal of Negative Dielectric Anisotropy

Recently we described a novel guest-host cell which exhibits a positive contrast (dark digits on a clear background) employing a mixture of a nematic liquid crystal with negative dielectric anisotropy, a chiral component, and a dichroic dye. In this cell, the cell thickness and the alignment layers are chosen such that in the absence of a field, the mixture shows a uniform homeotropic structure. When a voltage greater than the threshold value is applied, a helicoïdal structure is adopted, which absorbs the incident illumination.

In this work the expression for the threshold voltage is derived and compared with experimental results. Experimental results are also presented which indicate, for a given cell thickness, the influence of the pitch of the mixture on the contrast and the response time.     

Deformation of Nematic Liquid Crystals in Electric and Magnetic Fields as seen by Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

We have calculated the deformation of the director field within a nematic liquid-crystal cell when both extenal electric and magnetic fields are present. It can be proved experimentally that the line shape of proton nuclear magnetic resonance is strongly affected by the orientational distribution of the director.

The analysis of the NMR-line shape of LC-sandwich cells in this manner can yield various parameters relating to the liquid crystalline material.     

Dielectric Relaxation Spectroscopy of Liquid Crystal in Nematogenic Mesophase

In the present study, we report the dielectric behavior of a high temperature nematic liquid crystal (NLC) in both the planar as well as homeotropic alignments. To understand the mechanism of such high temperature NLC, we have performed dielectric spectroscopy in frequency range 100 Hz to 10 MHz. The different dielectric parameters, viz., effective dielectric permittivity and dielectric anisotropy of the sample have been determined with the variation of frequency and temperature. It is found that the dielectric parameters depend on dipole moment and rotation of side chain of molecule. The phase transition of this high temperature NLC has been confirmed by the DSC study.     

Smectic A-Nematic and Nematic-Isotropic Liquid Transitions in 8CB Liquid Crystal: Comparative Analysis

A differential heat flux calorimeter has been used to study the Smectic A-Nematic and Nematic-Isotropic Liquid transitions in 8CB liquid crystal. The Faktor and Hanks model under our working conditions enables us to distinguish first-order from second-order transitions by analysis of differential signal. The critical exponent values obtained justify the proportionality between Cp evolution and the normalized differential signal (differential signal divided by the scanning rate).     

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of Mono-Substituted Ferrocene-Containing Liquid Crystals

Abstract

Ten mono-substituted ferrocene-containing liquid crystals, which containing Schiff base or ester group, were prepared and their mesogenic behaviors were investigated. Two molecular structures were analyzed by X-ray. 4-ferrocenylphenyl 3′-chloro-4′-(2-methylbutyloxy)-benzoate, triclinic crystal system, P1 space group, a=12.035(2)Å, b=14.402(3)Å, c=15.137(3)Å, α =103.07(3)Å, ß = 102.01(3)Å, γ = 96.70(3)Å, Z=4, 8141 independent reflections, R=0.0528, Rw=0.1724. 4-ferrocenylphenyl 3′-chloro-4′-decanyloxybenzoate, triclinic crystal system, P1 space group, a= 11.663(2)Å, b= 11.729(2)Å, c=22.005(4)Å, α=76.10(3)Å, ß =87.56(3)Å, γ = 77.89(3)Å, Z=4, 7935 independent reflections, R=0.0784, Rw=0.2265.     

Synthesis,structure, and mesomorphism of novel liquid crystalline acrylate monomers and polymers

A series of novel liquid crystalline monomers (M₁?M₈) and side chain polymers base polyacrylate backbone were synthesized. The chemical structures were characterized by FT-IR and ¹H-NMR spectra. The mesomorphism and thermal behavior was investigated by polarizing optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis. The relationships of structure and mesomorphism are discussed in detail. The eight monomers and their corresponding polymers all show enantiotropic nematic phase. With increasing the spacer length or flexibility of the terminal group, the melting temperature (T_m) and isotropic temperature (T_i) of the corresponding monomers and polymers all decreased. However, with increasing the rigidity of the mesogenic core, T_m and T_i of the corresponding monomers and polymers all increased. TGA showed that all the polymers obtained in this study had excellent thermal stability.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Liquid Crystalline Epoxy Resin with Low Melting Point

A liquid crystalline epoxy resin (LCE) having α-methylstilbene as a mesogenic unit and an ethylene-oxy unit as a spacer (DGE(C2-MS-C2)) was synthesized and characterized. DGE (C2-MS-C2) has a lower melting point (MP) compared to the diglycidylether of 4,4′-dihydroxy-α-methylstilbene (DGEDHMS). The curing of DGE (C2-MS-C2) with diaminodiphenylethane (DDEt) in a mesophase generated a liquid crystalline (LC) network, which have a more highly layered structure than DGEDHMS. The LC network showed extensively large fracture energy on a tensile test. Introducing spacers outside the mesogen unit promotes the mesogen unit to form a highly ordered structure, which enhances the versatility of LC epoxy resins.     

二维压电声子晶体中声表面波的四阶散射矩阵理论

采用二维声子晶体四端口模型,提出了四阶散射矩阵理论描述二维声子晶体的方法.首先,考虑声子晶体在平面的二维特性,建立四端口的四阶散射矩阵.为了得到散射矩阵的参数,构建了叉指换能器中间放置声子晶体的器件模型,叉指换能器作为激发和接收端,声子晶体作为传输通道.然后,通过有限元软件计算出模型的电学参数,分别结合叉指换能器和声子晶体的混合矩阵(P矩阵)和四端散射矩阵,推导和计算出四阶散射矩阵的参数值.作为实例,128°YX铌酸锂基片上,制作了叉指换能器和圆柱孔声子晶体点阵,理论和实验上均得到反射、透射和散射系数,实验结果和理论计算结果较为吻合.     

超声辅助液相合成多晶SnS纳米粉

本文以Na2S·9H2O和SnCl2·2H2O为反应源物,采用超声辅助液相合成法制备SnS纳米粉.用XRD、TEM和TED等方法对粉体样品进行了表征,检测结果表明粉体样品为具有斜方晶体结构的SnS纳米微粒,其平均晶粒尺寸约为15～25nm.论文还简要讨论了超声波对SnS纳米粉形成的影响,分析认为超声辅助手段的加入有利于多晶SnS纳米粉的形成.     

Birefringence and Order Parameter of Some Alkyl and Alkoxycyanobiphenyl Liquid Crystals

The refractive indices and densities of six liquid crystals—two alkylcyanobiphenyls, three alkoxycyanobiphenyls and one mixture of two alkylcyanobiphenyls have been reported as a function of temperature. The effective polarizabilities α_eand α_o in the nematic phase calculated using the methods due to Neugebauer, Vuks and Saupe and Maier, are found to be appreciably different, though the order parameter S evaluated with those values of (α_e - α_o) are in good agreement. The preference of one method over the other two is discussed.