Analysis of the performance of the electric-field-driven liquid crystal lens (ELC Lens) for light of various incident angles

The electric-field-driven liquid crystal lens (ELC) induces the lens effect by the spatially non-uniform distribution of the refractive index. A scheme to analyse the performance of the ELC lens for the lights of various incident angles is devised by the calculation of the phase through the ELC lens and the determination of light ray directions from these phases. The calculated results show that the ELC lens changes the incident light of the plane wave into a focused wave and the focal distance becomes shorter for larger incident angles.     

A polarisation-independent blue-phase liquid crystal lens array using gradient electrodes

A polarisation-independent blue-phase liquid crystal lens array using gradient electrodes is proposed. A high dielectric constant layer helps to smoothen out the horizontal electric field and reduce the operating voltage. With gradient electrodes and a planar top electrode, gradient electric fields are generated and lens-like phase profile is obtained. When the applied voltage is changed, the focal length of the lens can be tuned from ∞ to 5.94 mm. Besides, the simulation results show that the lens is insensitive to polarisation while keeping parabolic-like profile.     

Influence of the remanent polarisation on the liquid crystal alignment in composite films of ferroelectric poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) and a cyanobiphenyl-based liquid crystal

Polymer-dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs) of ferroelectric poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) and nematic 4-cyano-4?-n-hexylbiphenyl (6CB) or 4-cyano-4?-n-pentylbiphenyl (5CB) were prepared to study the effect of the remanent polarisation of the polymer on the liquid crystal alignment. We measured the macroscopic alignment of the liquid crystal molecules in the thickness direction by means of Infrared Transition-Moment Orientational Analysis. Electrical poling at 100 V/µm caused an increased order parameter up to 0.15. After subsequent annealing above the nematic-to-isotropic phase-transition temperature, the order parameter was reduced to 0.02. Nevertheless, the order parameter was still higher than for non-poled film indicating a slight orientation in thickness direction. Both values are lower than those expected from model calculations. In agreement with dielectric measurements, we attribute this result to the shielding effect of mobile charge carriers within the liquid crystal inclusions.     

Critical behaviour of the order parameters at the SmC* to SmA phase transition in a ferroelectric liquid crystal mixture

Critical behaviour of the order parameters has been investigated in the ferroelectric liquid crystal mixture ZLI‐3654 in a 7.5 µm thick planar cell. The temperature dependence of the primary (tilt angle) and secondary (spontaneous polarisation) order parameters is considered. The critical exponent (β) has been evaluated from the fitting of the temperature dependence of the experimental data for both tilt angle and spontaneous polarisation. Experimental results are compared with the predictions of the de Gennes and Landau models.     

A concept for bifocal contact‐ or intraocular lenses: liquid single crystal hydrogels (“LSCH”)

The synthesis of liquid single crystal hydrogels (“LSCH”) in suitable molds offers an innovative concept to realize bifocal contact‐ or intraocular‐lenses. LSCH combine the properties required for applications as bifocal ophthalmic lenses: the soft and water‐containing hydrogel enables oxygen permeation and exhibits high birefringence due to the liquid crystalline phase structure built up by rigid rod‐like amphiphiles. Via a photo‐initiated crosslinking reaction of aqueous solutions of monomeric lyotropic liquid crystalline amphiphiles in the macroscopically ordered liquid crystalline state, we obtain optically uniaxially ordered and transparent LSCH. The orientation process and the phase structure of the anisotropic hydrogel is analyzed by deuterium NMR‐spectroscopy. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of novel hyperbranched polyimide for liquid crystal alignment

A novel hyperbranched polyimide (HPPI) was synthesized from a new four‐functional amine and 1,2,3,4‐cyclobutanetetracarboxylic dianhydride. The polyimide with hyperbranched structure exhibited excellent alignment for nematic liquid crystal (LC) compared with traditional linear polyimides. The solution viscosities of the poly(amic acids) (PAAs) and the surface morphology of PI films were investigated using an Ubbelhode‐type viscometer and atomic force microscopy, respectively. The viscosities of the hyperbranched PAAs were much lower than that of the linear PAA solution at any monomer ratio (amine:dianhydride). Pretilt angles of LCs above 2.8° were achieved with HPPI.     

Effect of spacer length on mesomorphic behaviours of chiral liquid crystal compounds containing (-)-menthyl

ABSTRACT

A homologous series of new chiral liquid crystal compounds, MnBEB (n = 4–10), was prepared by covalently linking a chiral (–)-menthyl with biphenyl-benzoate via a dicarboxylic spacer of varying length and parity. A combination of analysis methods, such as FT-IR, ¹H NMR spectra, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarised optical microscopy (POM) and X-ray diffraction was carried out to systematically investigate their phase structures and phase transition behaviours. The length and parity of the flexible spacers has a profound influence on the T_m and T_c and a modest odd-even effect is observed for the chiral liquid crystal compounds MnBEB. Only compound M4BEB developed an N* phase with selectively reflection on heating and a blue phase on cooling process. In addition, increasing the length of the flexible spacers tends to narrow the temperature range of the N* phase and widen the smectic phase, moreover, the pitch becomes longer with the spacer increases.     

Synthesis and characterization of novel ferroelectric liquid crystal polysiloxane containing undecanoyloxy spacer (I)

A novel side-chain liquid crystal polysiloxane and its corresponding monomer were synthesized by the standard method. We ensured their structures were as expected and their purities were high by ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance and infrared measurements. They were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) for their thermal analysis and polarizing optical microscopy (POM) with hot stage for their textures and transition temperatures. The results showed good liquid crystal properties and low transition temperatures of the mesophase. X-ray diffractions were done to research their layer structure and SmA and SmC^* phases were assured, in good agreement with the results of the POM and DSC measurements. The optical rotation degree was also measured.     

Effect of anti-parallel and twisted alignment techniques on various propertiesof polymer stabilised liquid crystal (PSLC) films

Thin composite films consisting of liquid crystal (LC) domains surrounded by polymer networks, termed as polymer stabilised liquid crystals (PSLCs), were prepared by photo-polymerisation of a pre-polymer dissolved in LC. Four composite films were prepared with different rubbing directions and with and without electric field during photo-polymerisation. Morphological characterisation carried our using a polarising optical microscope (POM) and a scanning electron microscope (SEM) reveal significant changes in LC domain morphology and associated polymer networks with the application of electric field during the fabrication of the films. The electro-optic (EO) properties of PSLC films placed between two crossed polarisers were studied using a He–Ne laser under an action of externally applied electric field. It was found that the PSLC film with twisted alignment and polymerised in the presence of electric field showed better EO properties than other films. Transmittance obtained by EO studies was verified with absorbance studies using a Ultraviolet-Visible spectrophotometer. The dielectric behaviour of PSLC films in the frequency range 20–20 MHz was investigated using a precision impedance analyser. The obtained data were modelled using Debye and Cole–Cole methods to calculate relaxation time and distribution parameter. The relaxation time calculated through the Cole–Cole model is in agreement with response time.     

Dimeric liquid crystalline compounds having a central malonic acid moiety: effect of the length of the spacers and terminal chains

We have studied the liquid crystalline properties of two new series of dimeric compounds consisting of a central malonic acid moiety, polymethylene spacers, and Schiff's base mesogens. In the first series we changed the length of the spacers with the terminal chain fixed as the butoxy group; in the second series we changed the length of the terminal alkyl or alkoxy groups while keeping the spacers fixed as decamethylene groups. In the first series, as the length of the spacer increased, the tendency to form smectic phases grew. In the second series, changing the alkyl terminal chain to the alkoxy terminal group raised the melting and isotropization temperatures. Increasing the length of the terminal group diminished the temperature range for the higher temperature smectic phase. The smectic phases are assigned to be smectic A and crystal smectic E phases.     

Solubility effects of multicomponent liquid crystal blends towards poly (n-butyl-acrylate)

Blends composed of isotropic linear poly (n-butylacrylate) of molecular weight M _w?=?112,000 g mol^?1 and the commercial four-component nematic low molecular weight liquid crystal (LC) mixture E7 exhibit a strong shift of the single nematic–isotropic transition temperature T _NI compared to that of the pure LCs, which was evidenced by using two complementary experimental techniques: differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and high-performance liquid chromatography. The first one provides direct information about phase behaviour and variation of T _NI of the polymer/LC blends, whereas the second one consists of analysing qualitatively and quantitatively the composition of millimetre-sized segregated LC domains in the two-phase region of the phase diagram.

In order to understand the origin of the unusual phase behaviour, several LC blends were prepared by modifying the concentration of the four single LC components that are present in the eutectic E7 mixture, following the results from the previous chromatographic analysis. These model blends were investigated by DSC measurements, showing that the variation, particularly of the terphenyl LC compound concentration, plays a determining role for the phase behaviour of the LC mixture and the shift of T _NI.     

Properties of meso-tetrakis (4-n-alkanoyloxyphenyl) porphyrin liquid crystal Co and Ni complexes

Six series of meso-tetrakis (4-n-alkanoyloxyphenyl) porphyrin Co and Ni complexes (12 kinds) were reported. Nine of the compounds were found to exhibit liquid crystal properties and display a hexago-nal columnar discotic columnar (Colh) phase. Molecular structure of all synthesized compounds was confirmed by IR, UV, MS, 1H NMR, and elemental analysis. These liquid crystalline compounds have been studied by cyclic voltammetry, luminescence, and surface photovoltage spectroscopy.     

Analysis of surface anchored lattice plane orientation in blue phase liquid crystal and its in-plane electric field-dependent capacitance response

Uniformly oriented macroscopic monodomain of cholesteric blue phase liquid crystal has been realised by the influence of surface anchoring. Orientation of the lattice planes in surface-treated (ST) and non-surface-treated (NST) cell were analysed and compared by Kossel diagram technique. NST cell has revealed the green and blue domains corresponding to reflection from oriented (110) and (112) planes of the body-centred cubic lattice. However, in the ST cell only the lattice plane (110) oriented uniformly and tailored the macroscopic monodomain. Electric field driven reorientation of the (110) lattice plane was noticed in NST cell whereas for ST cell such reorientation was absent. Two distinct electric field-induced capacitive responses have been observed in the two different cells. In NST cell anomalous electrostriction was observed, whereas for ST cell normal electrostriction was observed. Interestingly, the capacitance has decreased with an increasing electric field for anomalous electrostriction in NST cell, whereas for normal electrostriction in ST cell it was increased with increasing the field. Such a capacitive change behaviour is explained by dielectric anisotropic change followed by the electric field induced elongation and contraction of the cubic unit cell along and perpendicular to the electric field.     

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.     

Effect of chain length and fluorination on the dielectric and electro-optic properties of three partially fluorinated biphenylyl benzoate rigid core based ferroelectric liquid crystals

Three partially fluorinated ferroelectric liquid crystals (4F4R, 4F5R and 7F3R) with biphenylyl benzoate rigid core have been investigated by frequency-dependent dielectric spectroscopy and electro-optic methods. Molecular structures of the compounds differ only by the length of the carbon chain and the number of oligomethylene spacers. 4F4R and 4F5R exhibit ferroelectric SmC* phase over a considerable temperature range and directly melts into isotropic phase, 4F4R also shows a ferroelectric type subphase. Only Goldstone mode (GM) relaxation is observed in these compounds, but no soft mode (SM). 7F3R exhibits both the SmC* and SmA* phases, has higher stability of SmC*. Both the GM and SM relaxations are observed in this case, signifying that SM relaxation is possible only when SmC* is formed on cooling from SmA*. Increase of dielectric strength and critical frequency with temperature, in all cases, has been explained in the light of generalised Landau model. Spontaneous polarisation is found to decrease with increasing flexibility, and optical tilt depends more on fluorination than on chain length.     

The physical properties of alkene-terminated liquid crystal molecules/E8 mixture and the electro-optical properties as they doped in polymer-dispersed liquid crystal systems

Effects of the content of fluorinated alkene-terminated liquid crystal (LC) molecules on the physical properties of the fluorinated alkene-terminated LC/E8 mixture were studied. The morphology and electro-optical properties as they doped in polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) films were investigated. The detailed discussion of the obtained results is given. As a result, comparing with the physical properties of the series of LC mixtures with the same content of the analogous fully saturated compounds doped with E8, we find that the birefringence is significantly larger for the LC mixture with the alkene-terminated materials. Both fluorinated alkene-terminated LC molecules and the analogous fully saturated compounds doped with E8 reduce the driving voltage of PDLC films. Moreover, PDLC films with the fluorinated alkene-terminated LC molecules possessed higher contrast ratio and faster response time than that of the PDLC films prepared by adding the same mass fraction of the analogous fully saturated compounds. Thus, the ability to manipulate physical properties of LC mixture and electro-optical properties of PDLC films by changing the LC molecular structures may have future relevance for new LC structures design and applications of PDLC films.     

meso-四(对烷氧苯基)卟啉及其金属配合物的合成、表征及液 晶性

合成了meso-四(对烷氧苯基)卟啉及其Cu,Co,Zn,Pb金属配合物38个,其中14个为未见文献报道的新化合物。用元素分析,IR,UV,^1HNMR,MS对其进行了表征,确证了其结构。研究了这五个系列化合物的液晶性能,发现16个化合物具有液晶性,探讨了烷氧基链长及配位金属离子对液晶性能的影响。     

Influence of the chain length on the nematic-to-isotropic phase transition for the odd members of a highly non-symmetric pyrene-based series of liquid crystal dimers

This paper describes a detailed study of the nematic (N)-isotropic (I) phase transition in the homologous series of liquid crystal dimers, the α-(4-cyanobiphenyl-4?-oxy)-ω-(1-pyreniminebenzylidene-4?-oxy)alkanes (CBOnO.Py) by means of calorimetric and dielectric measurements as a function of temperature. It is concluded that for this transition, the latent heat or the entropy change decreases as the chain length of the odd dimers decreases, and this decrease is consistent with the observed tricritical behaviour.     

Properties of meso-tetrakis (4- n -alkanoyloxyphenyl) porphyrin liquid crystal Co and Ni complexes

Six series of meso-tetrakis (4-n-alkanoyloxyphenyl) porphyrin Co and Ni complexes (12 kinds) were reported. Nine of the compounds were found to exhibit liquid crystal properties and display a hexagonal columnar discotic columnar (Col_h) phase. Molecular structure of all synthesized compounds was confirmed by IR, UV, MS, ¹H NIVR, and elemental analysis. These liquid crystalline compounds have been studied by cyclic voltammetry, luminescence, and surface photovoltage spectroscopy. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 59783001), the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (Grant No. Y2006B41), the Foundation of Shandong Provincial Education Department (Grant No. J06A53), the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong University of Technology (Grant No. 2004KJM15) and Doctor Foundation of Shandong University of Technology     

Evaluation of the surface properties of 4-(Decyloxy) benzoic acid liquid crystal and its use in structural isomer separation

The selectivity of 4-(Decyloxy) benzoic acid (DBA) liquid crystal in surface adsorption region (303.2–328.2 K) and thermodynamic region (423.2 – 433.2 K) was investigated by inverse gas chromatography at infinite dilution (IGC-ID). The selectivity parameters of the structural isomer series named butyl acetate, butyl alcohol, and amyl alcohol series were calculated for the DBA using IGC-ID technique. Additionally, the surface properties including dispersive surface energy (gS D), free energy (DGA S), enthalpy (DHA S), and acidity-basicity constants were calculated with net retention volumes obtained from IGC-ID experiment results. When the DHA S and DGA S are constants, DBA surface was found to be an acidic character (KD/KA @ 0.89).