Structural studies of laterally attached liquid crystalline polymers

Abstract

Structural studies of a series of laterally attached side chain liquid crystalline polysiloxanes have been made by X-ray diffraction. All but one exhibit a nematic phase with S_C-like short range ordering. The diffraction has been interpreted in terms of a model in which the mesogenic units form a ‘jacket’ around the polymer backbone. The backbone conformation has been studied by small angle X-ray scattering from oriented samples of mesomorphic solutions and by infrared dichroism measurements on oriented samples of the polymers. In both cases the results were consistent with the mesogens being oriented parallel to the backbone which is consistent with the ‘mesogen jacket’ model.     

Structural studies of laterally attached liquid crystalline polymers

Structural studies of a series of laterally attached side chain liquid crystalline polysiloxanes have been made by X-ray diffraction. All but one exhibit a nematic phase with S_C-like short range ordering. The diffraction has been interpreted in terms of a model in which the mesogenic units form a 'jacket' around the polymer backbone. The backbone conformation has been studied by small angle X-ray scattering from oriented samples of mesomorphic solutions and by infrared dichroism measurements on oriented samples of the polymers. In both cases the results were consistent with the mesogens being oriented parallel to the backbone which is consistent with the 'mesogen jacket' model.     

Synthesis and X-ray investigation of liquid crystalline polymers containing laterally methyl-substituted tolane-based mesogenic side groups

A series of polymethacrylates containing laterally methyl-substituted 4-alkoxy-4-nitrotolane, 4-alkoxy-4'-cyanotolane, and 4-alkoxy-4'-trifluoromethyltolane as mesogenic side groups are presented. The thermal behaviours of the prepared compounds were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, optical polarized microscopy and X-ray diffraction. All of the obtained methacrylate monomers exhibit no mesophase, while most of the synthesized polymers reveal enantiotropic mesomorphism. The polymer containing 4-propyloxy-2'-methyl-4'-nitrotolane side groups was the only one to show no mesomorphic behaviour. The spacer length and the nature of terminal group have a profound influence on the type of mesophase formed and the thermal stability. Incorporation of a lateral methyl-substituent into the mesogenic groups reduces the thermal stabilities of the mesophases. X-ray diffraction reveals that polymers with a smectic A or smectic E phase have the inclination to form a bilayer structure. Increasing the temperature within the smectic phase range, the intermolecular spacing increases while the layer spacing decreases. On the other hand, introducing a lateral substituent into the mesogenic side groups leads to increase in both layer and intermolecular spacing.     

Main chain liquid crystalline polymers with laterally linked organometallic mesogens

The synthesis and characterization of the phase behaviour of a homologous set of polymers of 1,m-diamino-n-alkanes with bis[4-(4-alkoxybenzoyloxy)-2-hydroxybenzaldheyde]copper(II) is reported. The structural peculiarity of these polymers, which is indicated in the title, stems from the presence of metal-complexed salicylideneaminato segments connected via the nitrogen atoms. Calorimetric analysis, polarizing optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction and dynamic viscosity measurements indicate the occurrence of nematic mesomorphism for all the polymers-including two structural analogues containing Ni(II) or Pd(II) in place of Cu(II).     

Main chain liquid crystalline polymers with laterally linked organometallic mesogens

The synthesis and characterization of the phase behaviour of a homologous set of polymers of 1,m-diamino-n-alkanes with bis[4-(4-alkoxybenzoyloxy)-2-hydroxybenzaldheyde]copper(II) is reported. The structural peculiarity of these polymers, which is indicated in the title, stems from the presence of metal-complexed salicylideneaminato segments connected via the nitrogen atoms. Calorimetric analysis, polarizing optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction and dynamic viscosity measurements indicate the occurrence of nematic mesomorphism for all the polymers-including two structural analogues containing Ni(II) or Pd(II) in place of Cu(II).     

Electro-optical properties and nonlinear response of side chain liquid crystalline polymers

Among the NLO processes that have been studied, one of the most visually dramatic is the frequency doubling. In the field of optical information storage this process can provide the conversion of near-infrared laser light from diode lasers into deep blue light. Compared to the more traditional inorganic NLO materials, polymers with polarizable aromatic pendant side groups are increasingly being recognized as the materials of the future. Recently it has been pointed out that the axial ordering spontaneously present in nematic and smectic A polymers can be used to enhance field-induced polar ordering by elongating the orientational distribution function along the electric field direction. Depending on the value of the microscopic order parameters <P>₂ and <P>₄, the performance may be improved by a factor of 1 to 5 by using LCPs instead of ordinary amorphous polymers for SHG.^1-4) Interesting results have been obtained for copolyethers prepared by chemical modification of polyepichlorohydrin with classical 4-cyano-4'-hydroxybiphenyl mesogenic group which possesses NLO properties itself.^5-8) These copolyethers afford the opportunity to fine-tune the polymer properties by varying the concentration of the mesogenic side groups. As the concentration is increased, we move from a purely isotropic polymer to a nematic polymer. Spin-coated films have been activated using the corona poling technique and the order parameters <P>₂ have been determined from optical absorption spectra. The second harmonic coefficients d₃₃ and d₃₁ have been measured and compared with different statistical models. In view of the great practical importance, characterization of the wavelength dispersion has been carried out. It agrees well with the two-level approximation model. The dynamics of optical SHG has been investigated. It has been shown that both the presence of LC character in the material and the temperature at which the films are stored below Tg are important in determining the stability of the SH coefficients. A polyacrylate and a polymethacrylate bearing the same 4-cyanobiphenyl-based side groups have also been studied.^7-8) Of particular interest is the fact that the former is nematic while the latter is purely isotropic at rest, the addition of a methyl group to each structural unit of the polyacrylate backbone creating a higher conformational barrier to mesogen packing. Studies of the temporal and thermal characteristics of the poling process have been performed to: •understand and control the poling process with the intention of maximizing poling induced nonlinearity and stability. •elucidate the influence of the polymer backbone, our data including the use of the same mesogenic unit attached to increasing flexible backbones (e.g. polymethacrylate and polyether). •establish if, in the isotropic cases, noticeable axial order can be induced by the poling field, especially when the system is pulled through nematic/isotropic transition by the electric field.     

Synthesis and characterization of rigid‐chain liquid–crystalline polymers containing laterally attached side rods

A series of rigid‐chain polymers containing different concentrations of laterally attached side rods was synthesized. These polymers exhibited liquid crystallinity even up to a maximum side rod concentration of 20 mol %. The crystallinity of the polymers, however, decreased with an increase in the side‐rod concentration. These polymers had lower dielectric constants compared with their parent polymers, that is, similar polymers, but without laterally attached side rods. A dielectric constant of 2.6 can be achieved by incorporating 10 mol % of laterally attached side rods, which is 0.5 lower than that of its parent polymer. The reduction of dielectric constant may be attributed to low crystallinity as well as the less dense packing structure of the polymers induced by the incorporation of laterally attached side rods. This series of polymers also had good thermal stability. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 1288–1294, 2001     

Cinnamate ester containing liquid crystalline side chain polymers

The synthesis of methacrylate esters of 4-cyanophenyl-(4-(ω-hydroxyalkyloxy)) cinnamates, with spacer lengths of 2 and 6 methylene units and the synthesis of the corresponding acrylate ester with a spacer of 2 methylene units are described. The methacrylate monomers were polymerized by free radical polymerization, both as homopolymers and as copolymers with the analogous benzoate monomer of spacer length 6. The acrylate ester could not be polymerized successfully under the same reaction conditions. Polymers were characterized by NMR spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermo-optic observations. Of the monomers prepared, only the cinnamate with a hexamethylene spacer shows a mesophase, seen on supercooling of the melt. All of the polymers prepared were liquid crystalline, with smectic behavior predominating in the polymethacrylates with the longer spacer group. A narrow nematic region is seen just below the clearing temperature with a range of 3–9°C, nematic character is increased in the copolymer series with the degree of incorporation of the cinnamate monomer with the spacer group of length 2.     

Luminescent Iridium-containing liquid crystalline polymers in the side chain

Luminescent liquid crystalline polymers consisting of Iridium attached to polysiloxanes are prepared. 4-Cyanophenyl 4-(allyloxy) benzoate (M₁) and an Iridium complex (Ir-M₂) grafted to poly(methylhydrogeno)siloxane are used for the preparation of the Iridium-containing liquid crystalline polymers. The chemical structures are characterised by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and ¹H NMR. The mesomorphic properties and phase behaviour are investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, polarising optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The polymers containing <1.2 mol% of the Iridium ions reveal reversible mesomorphic phase transition, wide mesophase temperature ranges and high thermal stability. The introduction of the Iridium ions does not change the liquid crystalline state of polymer systems; on the contrary, the polymers are enabled with the luminescent properties. With the Iridium ion contents ranging between 0.3 and 1.2 mol%, luminescent intensity of polymers gradually increased. The temperature dependence of luminescent intensity was studied in the liquid crystalline phase.     

New side chain liquid crystalline polymers: synthesis and thermal properties of side chain polyacrylates having segmented spacers

In order to acquire high mobility of a mesogenic group, we propose a new type of side chain liquid crystal polymer having segmented spacers, consisting of binary moieties of an oligo(ethylene oxide) segment and analkylene segment. Six kinds of polyacrylates having segmented spacers consisting of different lengths of an oligo(ethylene oxide) and an alkylene, and having 4'-cyanobiphenyl as a mesogenic group have been synthesized, and their thermal properties investigated. Some of these polyacrylates exhibit a mesophase and show an extremely low glass transition temperature compared with LC polyacrylates having ordinary alkylene spacers.     

New side chain liquid crystalline polymers: synthesis and thermal properties of side chain polyacrylates having segmented spacers

In order to acquire high mobility of a mesogenic group, we propose a new type of side chain liquid crystal polymer having segmented spacers, consisting of binary moieties of an oligo(ethylene oxide) segment and analkylene segment. Six kinds of polyacrylates having segmented spacers consisting of different lengths of an oligo(ethylene oxide) and an alkylene, and having 4'-cyanobiphenyl as a mesogenic group have been synthesized, and their thermal properties investigated. Some of these polyacrylates exhibit a mesophase and show an extremely low glass transition temperature compared with LC polyacrylates having ordinary alkylene spacers.     

Thermotropic laterally attached liquid crystalline polymers: I. New stationary phases for high-performance liquid chromatography

Up to now thermotropic liquid crystalline side chain polymers have been seldom used as stationary phases in high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The preparation of a new class of surface modified silica gels is reported. They are obtained by coating on the silica support liquid crystalline polysiloxanes with mesogenic side groups laterally attached to the polymer backbone through a flexible spacer. Their chromatographic behavior in reversed-phase HPLC is described for the separation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The results show excellent planarity and rod shape recognition capabilities. Comparisons with low-molecular-mass liquid crystalline-bonded silica and longitudinally attached liquid crystalline polymer-coated stationary phase are also reported. Finally, comparisons to commercially available C₁₈ phases are described for the separation of complex mixtures.     

Supramolecular side chain liquid crystal polymers II. Interaction of mesogenic acids and amorphous polymers

The thermal behaviour of blends of a low molar mass mesogenic acid, 6-(4-n-butyloxy-4'-oxybiphenyl)hexanoic acid (BOBPOHA) with polystyrene, poly(2-vinylpyridine) and poly(4-vinylpyridine) has been characterized. BOBPOHA exhibits a monotropic smectic A phase and is essentially immiscible with polystyrene. Thus, the transition temperatures of the acid are independent of blend composition. In contrast, the thermal properties of the acid are strongly modified on blending with poly(2-vinylpyridine) and poly(4-vinylpyridine). Molecular mixing occurs in these blends below approximately 0.2 mol fraction of acid. This miscibility is driven by the formation of hydrogen bonds between the pyridyl and acid moieties. At higher concentrations of acid, phase separation occurs. Liquid crystallinity is not observed in the miscible blends while in the immiscible blends mesomorphic behaviour is attributed to regions of phase separated acid.     

Luminescent lanthanide-containing chiral liquid crystalline polymers in the side chain

Luminescent lanthanide-containing chiral liquid crystalline polymers are graft-copolymerised using poly(methylhydrogeno)siloxane (PMHS), crosslinking agent, liquid crystalline monomer and lanthanide complexes. The chemical structures of the monomers are characterised by FTIR, ^1?H NMR and elemental analyses. The mesomorphic properties and phase behaviour are investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, polarising optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The polymers containing less than 9 mol% of the crosslinking units reveal reversible mesomorphic phase transition, wide mesophase temperature ranges and high thermal stability. With the introduction of lanthanide complex units, the polymers are enabled with the significant luminescent properties. The temperature dependence of fluorescence intensity was studied in the liquid crystalline phase. The IR imaging shows that the lanthanide complex units evenly distribute in polymers.     

New side chain liquid crystalline polysiloxanes containing 1,3-dithiane or 1,3-dioxane rings as mesogenic side groups

New liquid crystal materials: 2-\[p-(9-decenyloxy)phenyl]-5-(p -alkoxyphenyl)-1,3-dioxane( 11 ) and 2-\[p-(9-decenyloxy)phenyl]-5-(p -alkoxyphenyl)-1,3-dithiane( 12 ) were synthesized. The mesomorphic behaviour of these compounds was determined. Though the 1,3-dioxane-type monomer exhibited both SmA and nematic phases, the 1,3-dithiane-type monomer only exhibited a nematic phase. By the hydrosilylation of poly(methylhydrosiloxane) and these monomers, side chain polysiloxanes were synthesized. For the monomers, the transition temperatures of the nematic to isotropic transitions of 1,3-dioxane-type compounds are higher than those of the corresponding 1,3-dithiane-type compounds. However, in the polysiloxane polymer this relation reversed.     

Combined main chain/side chain polymers. A new class of liquid crystalline polymers with unusual structural, thermodynamic and dynamic properties

Combined main chain/side chain polymers carry rigid rod-like mesogenic units both in the side chain and along the chain backbone. The properties of such combined systems are expected to be controlled by the competition of the interactions between the mesogenic units in the side and main chains as well as the tendency of the chain backbones to maximize their entropy. The thermodynamic, structural and dynamic properties of such combined main chain/side chain liquid-crystalline polymers were investigated for various chain architectures. The combined systems were found to display properties corresponding in many cases to a favourable superposition of properties characteristic of both main and side chain systems. These include high transition temperatures (up to 530 K) and broad ranges of stability of liquid-crystalline phases (up to about ΔT = 170 K). The orientational order parameter was found to approach values of 0.9 and it was possible to orient some of the polymers in weak external fields such as 1 T for instance, for magnetic fields. Smectic antiphase formation corresponding to that observed in low molar mass systems carrying strong longitudinal dipoles and resulting from the presence of incommensurable lengths were observed in those cases in which the side groups were attached directly to the rigid part of the chain backbone whereas no such effects occurred if the side groups were fixed to the flexible part of the main chain. The reorientational motion of the mesogens about their short axis, which couples to dielectric and electro-optical properties was found to have a surprisingly low activation energy (as low as 115 kJ/mol) and a strong anisotropy of the dielectric constant (Δε = 7) despite a relatively small concentration of dipoles. It thus seems that the combined systems may be the material of choice for many future applications.     

Phase behaviour of lyotropic liquid crystalline side chain polymers in aqueous solutions

Amphiphilic lyotropic liquid crystalline surfactants are synthesized displaying 10-undecenoic acid as hydrophobic and ethyleneglycol units as hydrophilic parts of the molecules. By addition reaction of the monomeric surfactants with poly [oxy(methylsilylene)], the surfactants are attached as side chains to the siloxane main chain. The phase behaviour of a polymer-water system and the corresponding monomer-water system is investigated by polarizing microscopy. The monomeric surfactant exhibits a liquid crystallineM ₁-phase of hexagonally packed, rod-like micelles in a concentration range of 49 to 70% surfactant. The liquid crystalline state of the polymeric surfactant is more stable, which is indicated by a broader temperature- and concentration range (35%–90% polymer surfactant). At lower concentration aM ₁-phase exists, which is separated by a cubic phase from a lamellarG-phase at higher concentration of the polymer surfactant. Compared to the monomeric system, the increased stability of the polymeric mesophase can be understood by the restriction of motions of the amphiphiles due to the linkage to the polymer main chain.Dedicated to Prof. Dr. F. H. Müller.The authors are greatly indebted to Wacker Chemie, D-Burghausen, FRG for kindly delivering the poly(hydrogensiloxane).     

Synthesis and characterization of halogen-containing ferroelectric liquid crystals and side chain liquid crystalline polymers

A new series of ferroelectric liquid crystals and side chain liquid crystalline polymers based on halogen-containing chiral centres has been synthesized. Chemical structures were analysed by NMR. Liquid crystal phases were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, optical polarizing microscopy, and X-ray diffractometry. The behaviour of the liquid crystalline phases was investigated as a function of spacer units and differing terminal asymmetric moieties. It was found that phase transition temperatures decreased with increasing length of the oligooxyethylene spacer unit. Differing terminal asymmetric moieties led to differing mesophase phenomena. Furthermore, a wide temperature range (including room temperature) of a chiral smectic C phase was achieved.