Molecular relaxations in dual-frequency nematic liquid crystals

The preparation of nematic liquid crystals mixtures results in changing of molecular relaxations in comparison to pure substances. Typical example is the creation of dual-frequency nematic liquid crystals using a base mixture and functional admixtures. In this paper, we present how dielectric properties of starting compounds change at mixture preparation. Three dual-frequency nematic mixtures of different composition were prepared and examined by means of dielectric spectroscopy in a wide frequency (100 Hz to 10 MHz) and temperature range (170°C to ?60°C). Parameters of detected modes for pure compounds and final mixtures were calculated and their relationships with crossover frequency are discussed.     

Thermal tuning band gap in cholesteric liquid crystals

The phase of a liquid crystal (LC) changing from a nematic phase to a cholesteric (Ch) mesophase is achieved by adding different ratios of chiral dopants S811. By studying the transmission spectrum, we are able to measure the helical pitch in cholesteric phase. The pitch in the mixtures of nematic E7 and chiral dopants S811 as a function of the concentration of the dopant and temperature is investigated. The sensitivity of the selective reflection notch of the cholesteric phase to the thermal tuning depends strongly on the ratios of the chiral dopants. It reveals that the influence of temperature is more profound for those cholesteric liquid crystals (CLCs) which exhibit smectic A (SmA) at lower temperatures. When fitted using Keating's formula, the helical pitch calculated from our experimental results lies on the predicted curve. Optimised ratios of the mixture CLCs for the optimised reflection band with the specified wavelength ranging from 467 nm to 2123 nm are suggested.     

Enlargement of blue-phase stability for rod-like low-molecular-weight chiral nematic liquid crystal mixtures

In this study, we investigated the enlargement of liquid crystal (LC) blue-phase (BP) temperature range using the rod-like low-molecular-weight cyano phenyl-type chiral nematic LC with various core group and chiral dopant concentrations. Also, the electro-optic response time was investigated for them. We found that the BP temperature range was strongly dependent upon the core structure and the chiral dopant concentration for the chiral nematic LC mixtures having the same terminal group. Also, we found a stable BP with a wide temperature range (more than 6 K), including a BP-isotropic coexistence state over 13.5 K upon heating and cooling processes and very fast response time (less than 1 ms), by using the cyano phenyl-type chiral nematic LC mixture with a high molecular aspect ratio and a high chiral dopant concentration.     

New low viscosity liquid crystal compounds containing the 2,3,4-trifluorophenyl moiety for active matrix displays

The synthetic route and physical properties for new three-ring derivatives, trans -4- n -alkyl-4'-(2,3,4-trifluorophenyl)bicyclohexanes ( n CCHB3F) with alkyl chain length n from 2 to 5 are presented. They exhibit broad range nematic phases exceeding 40 K, and low viscosity with a low activation enthalpy; they also show low dielectric anisotropies and high birefringence. Their dielectric properties are compared with those of their three-ring homologues with a lateral -NCS group. The Maier-Meier theory is used to evaluate the temperature dependence of the value of 'dielectric anisotropy divided by order parameter ( Δ ε/ S )'. The temperature dependence of Δ ε/ S in several phenylbicyclohexane homologues is explained. Furthermore, the viscosity of nematic liquid crystal mixtures containing these materials is significantly reduced. These mixtures are suitable for the improvement of the switching time of liquid crystal displays using TFT Twisted Nematic (TN) modes.     

Investigations of dual-frequency nematic liquid crystals doped with dichroic dye

In this work, we studied and analysed a particular variety of liquid crystals, the so-called dual-frequency nematic liquid crystals (DFNLCs). The interest was to perform dielectric spectroscopy and optical characterisation with two pure and doped mixtures of DFNLCs. By means the dielectric spectroscopy we observed a low value of crossover frequency at room temperature for one dye doped mixture. Additionally, in the spectra studies, a scattering of light at cross-frequency, and a stable and unstable focal conical state was observed, respectively, for the investigated mixtures.     

基于胆甾相液晶的可调制光子晶体

将胆甾相液晶填充进胶体晶体内部空隙, 通过胆甾相液晶与胶体晶体的耦合, 构建了一种新型可调制液晶光子晶体. 填充于胶体晶体内部的胆甾相液晶织构呈现典型的手性近晶相(S)特征. 由于胆甾相液晶具有特定的选择性反射, 当胶体晶体的带隙处于胆甾相液晶的反射波长范围之内, 则随着温度的改变, 胶体晶体的带隙与胆甾相液晶的带隙同时发生蓝移. 在一定温度条件下, 胆甾相液晶的带隙将与胶体晶体的带隙发生耦合, 实现了光子晶体带隙在单峰与双峰之间的可逆切换.     

Mid-infrared refractive indices of the nematic mixture E7

E7 is a room temperature nematic liquid crystal mixture with a high positive dielectric anisotropy and a high chemical stability. Because of its relatively high nematic-to-isotropic transition temperature, it is suitable for mid-infrared laser applications, where the absorption of laser light is not negligible and gives rise to a certain heating of the medium. In this paper we give a measurement of the refractive indices of the liquid crystal E7 at a wavelength of 10.6 μm as a function of temperature. An empirical formula to represent the experimental data is also provided.     

Morphology of spinodal decompositions in liquid crystal-colloid mixtures

We study the morphology of spinodal decompositions (SDs) in mixtures of a liquid crystal and a colloidal particle by solving time-dependent Landau-Ginzburg equations for a conserved order parameter (concentration) and two nonconserved order parameters (orientation and crystallization). We numerically examine the coupling between concentration, nematic ordering, and crystalline ordering in two dimensional fluid mixtures, coexisting a nematic and a crystalline phase. On increasing the concentration of colloidal particles, we have three different SDs: a nematic order-induced SD, a phase-separation-induced SD (PSD), and a crystalline-order-induced SD (CSD). In NSD, the phase ordering can lead to fibrillar and cellular networks of the minority colloidal-particle-rich phase in early stages. In the PSD, we find a bicontinuous network structure consisting of a nematic phase rich in liquid crystal and a crystalline phase rich in colloidal particles. In the CSD, nematic droplets can be formed in a crystalline matrix. Asymmetric mixtures of a liquid crystal and a colloidal particle lead to rich varieties of morphologies.     

Mid-infrared refractive indices of the nematic mixture E7

E7 is a room temperature nematic liquid crystal mixture with a high positive dielectric anisotropy and a high chemical stability. Because of its relatively high nematic-to-isotropic transition temperature, it is suitable for mid-infrared laser applications, where the absorption of laser light is not negligible and gives rise to a certain heating of the medium. In this paper we give a measurement of the refractive indices of the liquid crystal E7 at a wavelength of 10.6 µm as a function of temperature. An empirical formula to represent the experimental data is also provided.     

Phase transitions in mixtures of a side-on-side chain liquid crystalline polymer and low molar mass nematic liquid crystals

Miscibility phase diagrams of mixtures of side-on side chain liquid crystalline polymers (s-SCLCP) and low molar mass liquid crystals (E48 and E44) have been established by means of polarized optical microscopy and light scattering. E48 and E44 are cyanobiphenyl-based eutectic nematic liquid crystal (LC) mixtures with nematic-isotropic transition temperatures of 93 and 105 C, respectively. The phase diagram of the s-SCLCP/E48 system reveals the coexistence of an isotropic nematic region and a single nematic phase in order of descending temperature. The single nematic phase suggests that the pair is miscible in the nematic region. On the other hand, the s-SCLCP/E44 mixture shows liquid liquid and nematic nematic coexistence phases, suggestive of the immiscibility character of the pair. These nematic phase diagrams of the s-SCLCP/E48 and s-SCLCP/E44 have been analysed in the context of the combined Flory-Huggins (FH) free energy for isotropic mixing and the Maier-Saupe (MS) free energy for nematic ordering of the mesogens. This combined FH/MS theory is capable of predicting the observed nematic phase diagrams consisting of liquid liquid, liquid nematic, nematic nematic, and the pure nematic regions. The change of colour accompanying the appearance and disappearance of the inversion walls may be attributed to the temperature dependence of birefringence.     

UV tuning of the electro-optical and morphology properties in polymer-dispersed liquid crystals

Polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) films operating in reverse mode are transparent electro-optical devices, which can be turned into an opaque state by application of a suitable electric field. The effect was investigated of different UV powers, used during the polymerization process, on the electro-optical and morphology properties of PDLCs, working in reverse mode operation. Films were obtained by UV polymerization of mixtures of a low molecular weight nematic liquid crystal and a photopolymerizable liquid crystal monomer, homeotropically aligned by rough conductive surfaces. The electro-optical and morphology properties of samples were related to the polymerization conditions. Samples polymerized by lower UV powers exhibited “polymer ball” morphology and an electro-optical response due to the liquid crystal director reorientation, whereas samples obtained at higher UV powers showed a “Swiss cheese” morphology and an electro-optical response due to dynamic scattering. In addition, we observed by conductivity and IR measurements that UV exposure induces a degradation of the nematic liquid crystal.     

The role of crosslinking and polarity in the dark relaxation of azobenzene-based,polymer-stabilised cholesteric liquid crystals

Prior examinations have reported that polymer stabilisation of azobenzene-based cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) mixtures can reduce the time necessary for complete colour restoration in the dark from three days to as few as five minutes. This work extends upon these prior examinations by exploring and elucidating the role of crosslinker concentration and monomer polarity on the colour restoration of a representative CLC mixture composed of a high HTP bis(azo) binapthanyl chiral dopant (QL76) mixed into the cyanobiphenyl nematic liquid crystal host MDA-00-1444. The impact of these variables was unexpectedly convoluted. In all the formulations examined here, polymer stabilisation dramatically reduces the time for complete colour restoration of the starting reflection notch. In mixtures based on nonpolar liquid crystal monomers, increasing the crosslinker concentration reduces the time necessary for complete colour restoration. However, the dependence on crosslinker concentration reverses in mixtures composed from polar liquid crystal monomers in which increasing the crosslinker concentration serves to increase the time necessary for complete colour restoration.     

Folded chain crystallization of random terpolymer liquid crystal polymers from the nematic state

The morphology of ca. equimolar random terpolymer liquid crystal polymers of an aliphatic segment of 4–7 carbon atoms, oxybenzoate, and dioxyphenyl crystallized from the nematic state in the form of thin films on glycerine by slow cooling and quenching has been characterized by electron microscopy (TEM) and diffraction (ED). In all cases a folded chain, lamellar structure is found. The ED studies suggest adjacent reentry, and despite a large ΔH, indicate no change in lateral molecular packing at the crystal-“liquid crystal” transition with a transformation to the nematic state at a higher temperature “liquid crystal”-liquid crystal transition. The results are interpreted as suggesting similar folded chain, lamellar morphology in the nematic state. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Phase equilibria and photopolymerisation-induced phase transitions of mesogenic diacrylate monomer and low molecular mass liquid crystal mixture

Experimental phase diagrams of binary mesogenic mixtures of reactive mesogenic diacrylate (RM257) monomer and low molar mass liquid crystals (E7) were determined by means of differential scanning calorimetry and optical microscopy. The combined free energy densities of Flory–Huggins for liquid–liquid demixing, Maier–Saupe for nematic ordering, and phase field free energy for crystal solidification was proposed to describe the phase diagrams of the starting E7/RM257 mixtures. The phase diagram thus constructed is an ideal mixing type, exhibiting a narrow loop of isotropic + nematic (I + N) coexistence region followed by the crystal + nematic (Cr1 + N) region in descending order of temperature. Of particular interest is the permanent fixation of the mesophase structures upon photopolymerisation of neat RM257 in the corresponding nematic and crystalline phases. Upon photopolymerisation of a low RM257 content mixture in both isotropic and nematic states, the nematic–isotropic transition of E7 was found to persist. The permanent structural anchoring is seen upon photo-curing of the 90/10 RM257/E7 mixture in the crystalline state.     

Liquid crystal dimers and the twist-bend nematic phase. The preparation and characterisation of the α,ω-bis(4-cyanobiphenyl-4′-yl) alkanedioates

Eleven members of the homologous series of liquid crystal dimers, the α,ω-bis(4-cyanobiphenyl-4′-yl) alkanedioates, have been synthesised and their transitional properties characterised. These dimers consist of two cyanobiphenyl units connected by an alkyl spacer attached via ester linkages. All eleven members exhibit exclusively nematic behaviour. The nematic–isotropic transition temperatures, T_NI, and associated entropy changes, ?S_NI/R, exhibit pronounced alternations as the length and parity of the spacer is varied; this is characteristic behaviour of liquid crystal dimers. The transitional properties of the ester-linked dimers are compared with the corresponding materials having either ether, methylene or carbonate linkages between the spacer and mesogenic units. For short spacer lengths and both odd- and even-membered dimers, the ester-linked materials show the highest values of T_NI and the methylene-linked the lowest. For longer spacer lengths, T_NI of the carbonate-linked dimers fall between those of the corresponding ester- and ether-linked dimers. The ether-linked materials show the largest alternation in ?S_NI/R on varying spacer length and the carbonate-linked dimers the lowest. This behaviour is interpreted in terms of the molecular geometry and it is suggested that the ether- and ester-linked odd-membered dimers have rather similar shapes. A phase diagram constructed using binary mixtures of the pentyl member of this ester-linked series and the known twist-bend nematogen, 1,7-bis(4-cyanobiphenyl-4′-yl)heptane (CB7CB), is presented. The twist-bend nematic–nematic transition temperature of the mixtures shows a striking convex curvature as the concentration of CB7CB is decreased, and so it is not possible to estimate a virtual twist-bend nematic–nematic transition temperature for the ester-linked material.     

Temperature calibration of an electrical compensation DSC on cooling using thermally stable high purity liquid crystals

Temperature calibration of DSCs is usually carried out on heating. In order to accurately control the temperature during cooling experiments, the calibration has to be carried out on cooling. Therefore, three high-purity, thermally stable liquid crystals were used to perform a temperature calibration of an electrcial compensation DSC on cooling. All three liquid crystals have several liquid crystalline phases, and they all were purified to a 99.9% lovel. Temoperatures of the isotropic to nematic or cholesteric and the mesophase to mesophase transitions were used. It was verified that these liquid crystals have sufficient thermal stability for carrying out the calibration on cooling. The dependence of the real temperature on the indicated temperature has been established for all the combinations of the heating and cooling rates of practical interest. It is also shown that the vant's Hoff equation can only be applied to the crystal to a liquid crystal transition, but not to the liquid crystal to liquid crystal or liquid crystal to isotropic transitions.     

Accurate modelling of nematic liquid crystal under the combination of microwave signal and applied voltage

ABSTRACT

In this paper, a three-dimensional modelling of nematic liquid crystal (NLC) under the combined action of applied voltage and microwave signal is presented. The analytical method applied in the modelling is detailed. In previous research, the modelling of liquid crystal usually uses a small signal wave, and neglected its effect on the orientation of liquid crystal. In this paper, we take the microwave signal into consideration in the calculation of liquid crystal orientation, and get the influence of the power of microwave signal on the orientation. The variations of the relative permittivity of liquid crystal E7 with the power of microwave signals at 30 GHz are obtained. This method is applicable for the modelling of NLC under high power signals excitation.     

To be or not to be – nematic liquid crystals from shape-persistent V-shaped nematogens with the ‘magic angle’

The tetrahedral bending angle in V-shaped nematogens was claimed to be the optimum for finding a biaxial nematic liquid crystal phase. The benzo[1,2-b:4,3-b’]dithiophene core, recently successfully applied as a tetrahedral bending unit in mesogens with lateral flexible chains, is here embedded in a scaffold with only terminal chains, which conventionally promotes the formation of nematic phases at low temperature. A series of new mesogens has been successfully prepared, realising hockey-stick, hockey-stick dimer and V-shaped molecular topologies. Only the hockey-stick mesogens assemble in uniaxial nematic phases over a broad temperature range. Single crystal structure analysis of a hockey-stick and V-shaped compound reveal remarkable similarities with the benzodithiophene core wrapped by aliphatic chains. A model explaining the absence of nematic mesophases in the family of V-shaped, shape-persistent mesogens with terminal aliphatic chains is presented and results in the proposal of a new design for biaxial nematogens.