Light-controlled reorientation of nematic liquid crystal driven by an electric field

The joint influence of optical and (quasi-)static electric fields on the orientation of liquid crystal gives rise to peculiar effects. In this article we report on the generation of transient domains in liquid crystals, which are an order of magnitude larger than the size of the optical field profile. The formation of such a domain is due to the fact that the initially present optical field reverses the pre-tilt, and the voltage that is then applied gives rise to an amplification of the tilt angle. The resulting reorientation of the director strongly depends on the starting conditions of the preliminary present optical field. We demonstrate different switching conditions, depending on the relation between the incident angle of the beam and the pre-tilt angle. The resulting refractive index profiles give rise to lensing effects.     

Determination of symmetry and molecular arrangements of free-standing liquid crystal films using null-transmission ellipsometry

A high resolution null-transmission ellipsometry system has been developed for measurement of the optical properties of liquid crystal free-standing films. The ellipsometric parameters are measured to within a resolution of 0.002° from samples held in a sealed, temperature-controlled environment. By measuring the ellipsometric parameters as a function of applied electric field orientation, the optical symmetry and molecular orientations of free-standing liquid crystal films can be determined in some cases. Three carefully selected applications of this technique are presented.     

The effect of mono-sized liquid crystal domains on electro-optical properties in a polymer dispersed liquid crystal prepared by using monodisperse poly(methylmethacrylate)/liquid crystal microcapsules

Highly mono-sized poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/liquid crystal (LC) microcapsules having a mono-sized single LC domain were prepared by the solute codiffusion method and solvent evaporation. The size of the LC domain in the microcapsules could be controlled by the amount of LC introduced during the swelling stage. The electro-optical properties of the polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) prepared by using the microcapsules was highly improved. In particular, the threshold voltage was lowered and the switching behaviour with an applied electric field was sharpened drastically compared with PDLC prepared simply by solvent evaporation-induced phase separation.     

改进的离子色谱法测定乳制品中亚硝酸盐和硝酸盐

改进了国家标准方法GB 5009.33-2010《食品安全国家标准 食品中亚硝酸盐和硝酸盐的测定》中离子色谱法用于乳制品中亚硝酸盐(以亚硝酸根计)和硝酸盐(以硝酸根计)的测定方法。乳制品经水提取后,加入3%乙酸溶液沉淀蛋白,离心后上清液用反相固相萃取柱净化,以NaOH为淋洗液,加入乙腈作为有机改进剂分离亚硝酸根和硝酸根,外加水模式抑制,离子色谱分析柱为AS 19,柱温30 ℃,池温35 ℃,检测波长设定为225 nm,进样量200 μL。在上述条件下,亚硝酸盐和硝酸盐的质量浓度分别在0.005～0.50和0.05～1.50 mg/L时与色谱峰面积之间的线性关系良好。在电导检测模式下,亚硝酸盐的检出限为0.2 mg/kg,硝酸盐的检出限为0.04 mg/kg;在紫外检测模式下,两者检出限分别为0.02 mg/kg和0.01 mg/kg。将该方法用于乳制品的检测,加标回收率为84.0%～104.1%。该法简便、快速、准确,适用于乳制品中低含量亚硝酸盐和硝酸盐的检测。     

基于金纳米粒子的QCM实时检测DNA错配的研究

利用石英晶体微天平（QCM）技术,用双硫醇分子作为连接剂,将金纳米粒子固定于金电极表面,以人类p53基因片断为DNA探针,研究了其在QCM金电极表面的固定、杂交和错配,重点探讨了金纳米粒子修饰的DNA错配碱基个数和错配位点对杂交的影响。在实验条件下,金纳米粒子在QCM金电极表面的修饰使其灵敏度得到了明显提高;而且,错配碱基个数和错配碱基位点的差异都对杂交产生了不同程度的影响。     

Removal of nitrate from groundwater by heterotrophic denitrification using the solid carbon source

Removal of nitrate from groundwater was investigated using biodegradable meal box(BMB) and poly(ε-caprolactone)(PCL) as carbon source and biofilm carrier.The experimental results show that nitrate in groundwater can be effectively removed using BMB and PCL as carbon source.Denitrification rates supported by BMB and PCL were 52.80 and 42.77 mg(NO3-N)/(m2h),respectively,at 30 ℃ and pH 7.5.The pH value of effluent ranged from 7 to 8,and NO2-N concentration was less than 0.1 mg/L.Compared with BMB,PCL could dec...     

Effects of non-additive conductivity variation for a nematic liquid crystal caused by magnetite and carbon nanotubes at various scales

Effect of magnetite and single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the electric conductivity of 6CHBT nematic liquid crystal (LC) dispersed in polyvinyl alcohol is studied. The chosen technology of mixture homogeneising is shown to result in a LC dispersed in a polymer matrix (PDLC) with average LC droplet size of 500 nm (nano-PDLC). The conductivity of the nano-PDLC films with simultaneously introduced magnetite and nanotubes is shown to be smaller than the sum of the conductivities of films with nanoparticles of each type introduced separately. The main reason for this effect is assumed to be the formation of deep electron trap levels from complexes of nanoparticles of different type and thereby a decrease of the electron conductivity across the polymer which is the main mechanism of charge transfer in nano-PDLC. The effect of magnetite and the CNTs on the conductivity of the homogeneous LC and the micro-PDLC is analysed in comparison with the nano-PDLC.     

Formation of microstructured silicon surfaces by electrochemical etching using colloidal crystal as mask

Silicon disk arrays and silicon pillar arrays with a close-packed configuration having an ordered periodicity were fabricated by the electrochemical etching of a silicon substrate through colloidal crystals used as a mask. The colloidal crystals were directly prepared by the self-assembly of polystyrene particles on a silicon substrate. The transfer of a two-dimensional hexagonal array of colloidal crystals to the silicon substrate could be achieved by the selective electrochemical etching of the exposed silicon surfaces, which were located in interspaces among adjacent particles. The diameter of the tip of the silicon pillars could be controlled easily by changing the anodization conditions, such as current density and period of electrochemical etching.     

基于2,5-二溴对苯二羧酸配体的镧系金属有机骨架的合成、结构及性质

采用溶剂热法, 以2, 5-二溴对苯二甲酸(H₂L)为配体, 分别与六水合硝酸钕、六水合硝酸钆反应合成了 2种镧系金属有机骨架(MOFs):{[Nd₂(L)₃(DMF)₂(H₂O)₂]·2DMF}_n (1)和{[Gd₂(L)₃(DMF)₂(H₂O)₂]·2DMF}_n (2)。通过单晶X射线衍射、粉末X射线衍射、红外光谱、元素分析、荧光光谱、热重分析等测试方法对其进行了结构表征与性质研究。结果表明, 2个配合物均是以稀土离子为金属节点, 与配体相互连接, 形成无限延伸的三维网状结构。     

Cholesteric gratings induced by electric field in mixtures of liquid crystal and novel chiral ionic liquid

Formation of gratings upon alternating electric field in compositions of highly birefringent liquid crystal (LC) with novel chiral ionic liquid (CIL) enclosed in 10-µm-thick cells is studied. The compatibility of two organic components of the mixture is investigated. The grating is formed in 1–5% CIL mixtures and causes significant changes of the transmission of polarised light through the cells. Transmission of polarised λ = 633 nm light through the 5% CIL sample is studied with respect to frequency (1 Hz–3 MHz) and amplitude (up to 10 V) of alternating voltage and the results are used for sketch a voltage–frequency phase diagram. Two possible ways of formation of the gratings with perpendicular orientation to that formed from initial state are presented. Two twisting axes in the molecular alignments of the cholesteric LC gratings with perpendicular directions are proposed. Optical switch based on four different states of LC including two gratings with perpendicular directions is proposed. Moreover, behaviour of the rotation of a grating induced by AC field in hybrid planar-homeotropic cell is studied in two frequency regimes and rotation by more than 90° upon change of the AC field amplitude is observed.     

Synthesis and photochemistry of side-chain liquid crystal polymers based on cinnamate esters

The syntheses of three methacrylate monomers with cinnamate ester side-chains and of a further monomer with a corresponding cinnamide side-chain are described. Two of the monomers, with isomeric structures, were thermotropic liquid crystals. Although the clearing points were very similar the crystal melting points differed by 8°C. One compound also exhibited a monotropic smectic phase, behavior not shown by its isomer. The other two monomers were not liquid crystalline. The monomers were polymerized by free radical polymerization, both as homopolymers and as copolymers with methyl methacrylate. In the case of one of the mesogenic ester monomers, copolymers with a cyanophenyl benzoate monomer were also prepared. Three of the four monomers formed thermotropic liquid crystalline homopolymers and the copolymers with the benzoate monomer were also liquid crystalline. The monomers were considered as photoactive components of polymeric liquid crystals. As a preliminary investigation of their photochemistry, copolymers with methyl methacrylate were prepared and irradiated in solution with a broad-band source. Under these conditions two of the materials show a facile photo-Fries rearrangement of the aryl cinnamate ester group. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

点击化学合成盘-棒-盘状液晶三聚体

本文设计并合成了一系列盘-棒-盘状液晶三聚体.此类三聚体由两个相同的苯并菲盘状介晶基元和一个联苯棒状介晶基元通过CuI-NEt3体系催化端基炔和端基叠氮化合物的点击反应连接形成.该三聚体结构通过核磁、红外和高分辨质谱表征;介晶性通过偏光显微镜(POM)、差示扫描量热法(DSC)和X射线衍射(XRD)进行了研究.结果显示:此类液晶三聚体均为室温液晶,呈现四方柱状相(Colr).连接3个介晶基元的柔性间隔基的长度对化合物的相转变温度具有明显影响.     

General analysis of the measurements of the lateral crystal lattice moduli of semicrystalline polymers by x-ray diffraction and the application to nylon 6

A mathematical representation based on a linear elastic theory is proposed by which one may investigate the dependences of molecular orientation and crystallinity on the crystal lattice moduli and linear thermal expansion coefficients in the direction perpendicular to the chain axis as commonly measured by x-ray diffraction. In the theoretical calculation, a previously introduced model was employed in which oriented crystalline phase is surrounded by oriented amorphous phase and the strains of the two phases at the boundary are identical. The mathematical analysis indicated that the lateral crystal lattice moduli and linear thermal coefficients as measured by x-ray diffraction may be different from the intrinsic crystal moduli and linear thermal coefficients of a crystal unit cell, depending on the structure of the polymer solid. The numerical calculation was applied to nylon 6. As a result, it may be confirmed that the lateral crystal lattice moduli measured by x-ray diffraction are sensitive to the morphology of the bulk speciments and close to the intrinsic crystal moduli if the morphology of the test specimen can be represented by a parallel model with respect to the original stretching longitudinal direction.     

基于2，5-二溴对苯二羧酸配体的镧系金属有机骨架的合成、结构及性质

采用溶剂热法,以2,5-二溴对苯二甲酸(H₂L)为配体,分别与六水合硝酸钕、六水合硝酸钆反应合成了2种镧系金属有机骨架(MOFs)：{[Nd₂(L)₃(DMF)₂(H₂O)₂]·2DMF}_n (1)和{[Gd₂(L)₃(DMF)₂(H₂O)₂]·2DMF}_n (2)。通过单晶X射线衍射、粉末X射线衍射、红外光谱、元素分析、荧光光谱、热重分析等测试方法对其进行了结构表征与性质研究。结果表明,2个配合物均是以稀土离子为金属节点,与配体相互连接,形成无限延伸的三维网状结构。     

Orientational instability of nematic liquid crystal in a homeotropic cell with boundary conditions controlled by an electric field

We study the orientational instability of the director in a homeotropic nematic liquid crystal (NLC) cell in a DC electric field. The electric field is applied along or perpendicular to a cell surface depending on whether anisotropy of dielectric permittivity of NLC is positive or negative. The easy axis on one of the cell polymer substrates is allowed to deviate in perpendicular to the substrate plane due to the influence of the NLC and the electric field. It was established that the orientational instability of the director can have a threshold as well as be thresholdless which depends on the character of the coupling of the easy axis with the electric field. The temporal behaviour of a director and the easy axis during transition to the stationary state after turning on electric field and returning to the initial homogeneous state after turning off the field was investigated. In the case of the negative anisotropy of the static permittivity, the comparison of experimental and calculated time dependences of the easy axis reorientation angle let us to estimate values of the mobile easy axis viscosity coefficient and coupling parameter describing the coupling between the easy axis and the electric field.     

Effect of rGO on polymer-dispersed liquid crystal fabricated by RAFT polymerisation

In this study, we demonstrated that doping polymer matrix with a small amount of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) component (0.05–0.2%) had significant influence on the polymerisation kinetics and electro-optical performances of polymer-dispersed liquid crystal films (PDLCs) fabricated with macro reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer agents. The effects of rGO content were studied in terms of morphology, compound viscosity, polymer conductivity, polymerisation kinetics and driving voltage of PDLCs. The results exhibited that higher rGO content increased the compound viscosity and the entire process proceeded slowly. Furthermore, the addition of rGO increased the polymer conductivity and local electric field, and reduced the saturation voltage as well as the threshold voltage from 27.3 to 19.5 V and 13.2 to 6.41 V, respectively.     

Effect of an electric field applied during the injection procedure on the pretilt angle of a nematic liquid crystal

We examined the effect of an electric field applied during the injection procedure on the polar pretilt angle of a nematic liquid crystal (LC). The pretilt angle of the sample injected at 25°C gradually increased as the electric field was increased. On the other hand, the pretilt angle of a sample injected at 90°C (which is above the nematic-isotropic phase transition temperature of LC) showed a sudden increase in the presence of the electric field and also increased with a greater electric field. We think the alignment layer might be swollen with LC molecules, and the rotation of the immersed LC molecules by the electric field induces a deformation of the alignment layer. These results imply LC and the alignment layer were coupled, and their cooperation had an influence on determining the bulk pretilt angle.     

固化条件对聚合物分散液晶膜电光性能的影响

选用聚乙二醇二缩水甘油醚(EGDE)/季戊四醇缩水甘油醚(PERTGE)/1,8-二氨基-3,6-二氧杂辛烷(EDBEA)/向列相液晶(SLC1717)复合体系,在不同的固化条件下,通过热聚合诱导相分离方法制备了一系列电光性能不同的聚合物分散液晶(polymer dispersed liquid crystal,简称PDLC)膜.研究了固化温度和固化时间对制备的PDLC膜中聚合物网络的微观形貌和电光性能的影响.结果表明,随着固化温度的升高以及固化时间的缩短,PDLC膜的对比度、驱动电压和开态响应时间逐渐增大,而关态响应时间逐渐减小.在固化温度为363.2 K,固化时间为7 h时,所制备的PDLC膜具有较佳的电光性能.     

ZSM-5分子筛催化甲醇制汽油反应中的晶粒粒径效应研究

通过调控水热合成ZSM-5凝胶液中H_2O/Si物质的量比,实现了粒径为70、200、400和650 nm四种单分散ZSM-5的可控合成。采用XRD、TEM、BET和NH_3-TPD等多种表征对其微观结构进行分析,结合催化性能评价,考察了晶粒粒径对其催化甲醇制汽油反应性能的影响机制。结果表明,整体上随着ZSM-5晶粒粒径的增加,其外比表面积减小,结晶度提高,酸量呈现出先增加后基本不变的趋势。但外表面附着小晶粒的粒径为650 nm的分子筛体现出了大的外表面积和强的酸性。ZSM-5晶粒粒径的增加整体上降低了其催化MTG反应的寿命和最高收率。晶粒粒径为70 nm时,ZSM-5体现出了96 h的催化寿命和30.8%的最高收率。晶粒粒径为650 nm样品由于其大的外比表面积和较强的表面酸性,也体现出91 h的寿命。在大晶粒ZSM-5外表面附着生长小晶粒ZSM-5,是一种制备高性能催化剂的新方法。     

Studies on the ageing of a magnesium-potassium nitrate pyrotechnic composition using isothermal heat flow calorimetry and thermal analysis techniques

The ageing behaviour of a pyrotechnic mixture of magnesium and potassium nitrate has been followed at 50 °C and 65% relative humidity by isothermal heat flow calorimetry. Measurements have been carried out with samples in air and in an inert atmosphere. The main reaction product was found to be magnesium hydroxide. This has been determined quantitatively by thermogravimetry and the amount formed correlated with the measured cumulative heat of ageing. The results have been compared with those obtained for magnesium powder studied under the same conditions. In addition the influence of the ageing process on the pyrotechnic reaction has been studied by high temperature differential scanning calorimetry under ignition conditions and modulated temperature differential scanning calorimetry.