Study and characterization of the smectic X* phase in binary mixtures of thermotropic double hydrogen bonded ferroelectric liquid crystals

Thermotropic double hydrogen bonded ferroelectric liquid crystals (DHBFLCs) composed of N-carbamyl-L-glutamic acid (CGA) and p-n-alkyloxy benzoic acids (BAO) have been investigated. Variation in the molar proportion of X and Y (where X = CGA + 5BAO and Y = CGA + 6BAO, CGA + 7BAO, and CGA + 8BAO) composed of three series yielded 27 binary mixtures. Optical and thermal properties of these mixtures are meticulously studied in the present article. A novel smectic ordering, namely smectic X*, is observed in all the three series. The aim of the investigation is to obtain an abundance occurrence of smectic X* and hence the proportions of the binary mixtures are so chosen that the preamble task is accomplished. Phase diagrams of three series are constructed from the data obtained from polarizing optical microscope (POM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) studies. Odd–even effect, order of the phase transition, thermal stability factor, thermal equilibrium, and optical tilt angle are also premeditated.     

Design,synthesis and characterization of a linear hydrogen bonded homologous series exhibiting reentrant smectic C ordering

Design, synthesis and characterization of seven linear hydrogen bonded liquid crystal complexes derived from mesogenic p–n-decyloxy benzoic acid and p–n-alkyl benzoic acids designated as 10OØn (where n varied from ethyl to octyl) are reported. FTIR studies confirm the hydrogen bond formation in all these complexes. The phase transition temperatures and their corresponding enthalpy values are experimentally deduced from Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) studies. POM and DSC data are further utilized for the construction of 10OØn phase diagram. Two Odd–even effects have been evinced, one in enthalpy values and the other in corresponding transition temperatures across the isotropic to nematic phase transition. An interesting result is the observation of re-entrant smectic ordering, designated as smectic C_R in three higher ordered mesogens. A new smectic ordering, smectic X, has been observed which is sandwiched between traditional smectic C and re-entrant smectic C_R. Magnitudes of optical tilt angle in smectic C, smectic X and smectic C_R are experimentally found to attain saturation with decrement of temperature in the corresponding phase. The occurrence of smectic X and smectic C_R are discussed with relation to the molecular chemical structure. The optical filtering action in smectic C and re-entrant smectic C_R phases have been analyzed.     

Influence of hydrogen bonding on the generation and stabilization of liquid crystalline polyesters,poly(esteramide)s and polyacrylates

Induction and stabilization of liquid crystallinity through hydrogen bonding (HB) are now well-established. Interesting observations made on the influence of HB on LC behaviour of amido diol-based poly(esteramide)s, poly(esteramide)s containing nitro groups and azobenzene mesogen-based polyacrylates will be discussed. The use of amido diol as an important precursor for the synthesis of novel PEAs containing inbuilt di-amide linkage enabled generation of extensive hydrogen bondings between the amide-amide and amide-ester groups which stabilized the mesophase structures of the PEAs. The contributions of hydrogen bonding to the generation and stabilization of mesophase structures were plainly evident from the observation of liquid crystallinity even in PEAs prepared from fully aliphatic amido diols. Replacement of terephthaloyl units by isophthaloyl moiety totally vanquished liquid crystalline phases while biphenylene and naphthalene units did only reduce the transition temperatures as expected. The occurrence of the smectic phases in some of the polymers indicated possibly self-assembly through the formation of hetero intermolecular hydrogen bonded networks. A smectic polymorphism and in addition, a smectic-to-nematic transition, were observed in the monomers and polymers based on 1,4-phenylene[bis-(3-nitroanthranilidic acid)] containing nitro groups. A smectic polymorphism was also observed as a combined effect of hydrogen bonded carboxyl groups and laterally substituted alkyl side chains in the case of azobenzene mesogen containing side chain polyacrylates. It was further shown that the presence of the mesophase enhances the non-linear optical (NLO) response of these polymers.     

Thermal and optical characterization of a novel series of supramolecular liquid crystals

Supramolecular hydrogen bonded liquid crystal (SMHBLC) homologous series is synthesized and characterized. Hydrogen bond is formed between p-n-alkyloxy benzoic acids (nOBA, where n=7 to 12) and Iodo substituted benzoic acid (I_mBA) respectively. The isolated homologs are characterized by various techniques like Polarizing Optical Microscopy (POM), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), ¹H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). From the POM and DSC studies phase diagram has been constructed and discussed. A new smectic ordering, labeled as smectic R, has been characterized which exhibits a ribbon like texture. This phase is observed in a complex pertaining to the undecyloxy carbon number. Tilt angle in smectic R phase and in traditional smectic C of all the complexes have been experimentally deduced and the results are fitted and so obtained β value concurrences with the Mean field theory predicted value.     

Microwave‐assisted facile synthesis of liquid crystalline non‐symmetrical hexaalkoxytriphenylenes containing a branched chain and their characterization

Two novel series of liquid crystalline non‐symmetrical hexaalkoxytriphenylenes containing a branched alkyl chain have been prepared using microwave dielectric heating. Series 1 contains 2‐ethyl hexyloxy group as the branched chain whereas series 2 contains 3,7‐dimethyl octyloxy as the branched chain along with five normal alkoxy chains. The number of carbon atoms varies from four to eight in the normal alkoxy chains. Mesophase behaviour of the compounds has been characterized by polarizing optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and mesophase structure has been characterized by X‐ray diffractometry. All the compounds show enantiotropic mesophase transitions with columnar hexagonal structure. In series 1 ( 4a – e ) the mesophase range and transition temperatures of all the compounds are lowered as compared to the parent compounds whereas in series 2 ( 5a – e ) the transition temperatures of all the compounds are lowered, mesophase range for lower members are decreased, however, higher members show more mesophase stability. Both melting and clearing temperatures of series 2 ( 5a – e ) show strong odd–even effect. The intercolumnar distance increases as expected for compounds of both the series with increase in alkyl chain length with some degree of interdigitation of the alkyl chains. The intercolumnar distances for the compounds of the series 2 are slightly higher than the compounds of the series 1 . Compound 4c displays homeotropic alignment without using any special technique for alignment of the columnar phase or application of any external force. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis, crystal growth and characterization of a metal-organic nonlinear optical tri-allylthiourea mercury chloride single crystals

Metal-organic nonlinear optical material tri-allylthiourea mercury chloride single crystal was grown using low temperature solution growth method. The growth parameters such as pH and temperature were optimized for getting colorless single crystals. The X-ray rocking curve measurement shows that the grown crystal was free from internal structural grain boundaries. The structural, spectral, optical and thermal properties of the grown specimen were studied using various characterization techniques. The defects present in the grown crystals were studied with chemical etching analysis. The results show that the grown crystals are suitable candidates for nonlinear optical applications.     

Design, synthesis and characterization of a highly luminescent Eu-complex monomer featuring thenoyltrifluoroacetone and 5-acryloxyethoxymethyl-8-hydroxyquinoline

A multi-functional ligand, 5-acryloxyethoxymethyl-8-hydroxyquinoline (Hamq), was synthesized, which contained a polymerizable C=C double bond for the copolymerization with other vinyl monomers and acted as photon antenna able to transfer energy to Eu³⁺ ions effectively. The triplet state energy of Hamq was determined to be 22,370 cm⁻¹ via the phosphorescence spectra of Hamq and its gadolinium complex. The title complex monomer Eu(tta)₂(amq) was prepared by coordination reaction of Hamq with europium isopropoxide and 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetone (Htta) in dry organic solvents under argon atmosphere and characterized by elemental analysis and IR spectrum. The photophysical properties of the complex were studied in detail with UV-vis, luminescence spectra, luminescence lifetime and quantum yield. The complex exhibited nearly monochromatic red emission at 612 nm, a remarkable luminescence quantum yield at room temperature (30.6%) upon ligand excitation and a long ⁵D₀ lifetime (389 μs), which indicated that the ligand Hamq could sensitize the luminescence of Eu(III) ion efficiently in Eu(tta)₂(amq), resulting in a strong luminescence of its copolymer poly[MMA-co-Eu(TTA)₂(amq)] under UV excitation. The excellent luminescence properties of the complex made it not only a promising light-conversion molecular device but also an excellent luminescent monomer.