Dielectric investigations in the nematic and hexatic smectic B phases of 4-hexyl-4′-[2-(4-isothiocyanatophenyl)ethyl]-1,1′-biphenyl

Temperature-dependent dielectric characterization of 4-hexyl-4′-[2-(4-isothiocyanatophenyl)ethyl]-1,1′-biphenyl (HIEB), which exhibits smectic B and nematic phases, has been carried out over the frequency range of 1 Hz to 10 MHz for homeotropic and planar alignment of sample molecules. This compound shows positive dielectric anisotropy (Δε = ε _∥ ? ε _⊥ > 0) in the nematic (N) phase. One mode of dielectric relaxation showing Arrhenius behaviour has been detected in the hexatic smectic B (SmB) phase. Various electrical parameters, namely, dielectric anisotropy, relaxation frequency and activation energy, have been determined in the N and SmB phases.     

2-[2-[4-[2-[2-[1,3-Dihydro-1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-oxo-5-isobenzofuranthioureidyl]ethylaminocarbonyl]ethyl]phenyl] ethylamino]-5′-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (FITC-APEC): A fluorescent ligand for A2a-adenosine receptors

The fluorescein conjugate, FITC-APEC (2-[2-[4-[2-[2-[1,3-dihydro-1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-oxo-5-isobenzofuranthioureidyl]ethylaminocarbonyl]ethyl] phenyl]ethylamino]-5-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine), is a novel ligand derived from a series of functionalized congeners that act as selective A_2a-adenosine receptor agonists. The binding of FITC-APEC to bovine striatal A_2a-adenosine receptors measured by fluorescence techniques was saturable and of a high affinity, with aB _max of 2.3±0.3 pmol/mg protein andK _D of 57±2 nM. TheK _D value estimated by fluorescence was consistent with theK _i (11±0.3 nM) obtained by competition studies with [³H]CGS 21680. Additionally, theB _max value found by FITC-APEC measurement was in agreement withB _max values obtained using radioligand binding. FITC-APEC exhibited rapid and reversible binding to bovine striatum. The potencies of chemically diverse A_2a-adenosine receptor ligands estimated by inhibition of FITC-APEC binding were in good agreement with their potencies determined using radioligand binding techniques (r=0.97,P=0.0003). FITC-APEC binding was not altered by purine derivatives that do not recognize A_2a-adenosine receptors. These findings demonstrate that the novel fluorescent ligand FITC-APEC can be used in the quantitative characterization of ligand binding to A_2a-adenosine receptors.     

The characterization of electroplex generated from the interface between 2-(4-trifluoromethyl-2-hydroxyphenyl)benzothiazole] zinc and N,N′-diphenyl-N,N′- bis(1-naphthyl)-(1,1′-biphenyl)-4,4′-diamine

The electroplex between (2-(4-trifluoromethyl-2-hydroxyphenyl)benzothiazole) zinc [Zn(4-TfmBTZ)₂] as an electron-acceptor and N,N′-diphenyl-N,N′-bis(1-naphthyl)-(1,1′-biphenyl)-4,4′-diamine (NPB) as an electron-donor was characterized by bilayer, blend, and multilayer quantum-well (MQW) device, respectively. The blend composition and quantum-well number are effective parameters for tuning electroluminescence color. White light with high color purity and color rendering index (CRI) was observed from these devices based on Zn(4-TfmBTZ)₂/NPB. Moreover, the blend and MQW devices all exhibit high operation stability, hence excellent color stability. For the device with 5 mol% NPB in blend layer, its Commission International Del’Eclairage (CIE) coordinate region is x=0.28–0.31, y=0.33–0.35 and CRI is 83.3–91.2 at 5–9 V. For MQW structure device with NPB of 60 nm thickness, its CIE coordinate region is x=0.29–0.32, y=0.31–0.34 and CRI=87.9–92.5 at 10–15 V. Such high color stability and purity and CRI, being close to ideal white light, are of current important for white OLED.     

The effect of non-mesogenic biphenyl impurity on the orientational order parameter of 4-cyano-4′-n-octyl-biphenyl (8CB)

The role of non-mesogenic impurities on a mesogen and the consequent alteration of mesogenic properties have always been of great interest in the tailoring of mesogenic behaviour. In the present work the effect of rigid, non-polar, nonmesogenic solute ‘biphenyl’ on the optical properties of the mesogen 4-cyano-4′-n-octyl-biphenyl (8CB) has been reported. The phase transitions and thermal variations of the refractive index, polarisability and order parameter ?P₂? of the 8CB–biphenyl systems of various concentrations have been investigated using a He–Ne laser beam. The results have been compared with ?P₂? of pure 8CB. It has been observed that biphenyl lowers both smecticA–nematic and nematic–isotropic transition temperatures by an amount that depends on impurity concentration.     

A radio-tracer study of self-diffusion in the smectic phases iso-butyl 4-(4′-phenylbenzylideneamino) cinnamate [IBPBAC]

Average translational self-diffusion coefficients, , have been determined in the smectic E, B and A phases of unaligned samples of iso-butyl 4-(4′-phenylbenzylideneamino) cinnamate. A radiotracer technique was employed which was based on the serial sectioning method used in the study of diffusion in solids. In the smectic E phase is about 1 × 10^-14 m² s^-1. The self-diffusion in the smectic B phase fits reasonably well to an Arrhenius law with an activation enthalpy of 82 kJ mol^-1. The transition from the smectic B to A phase results in a dramatic rise in . In the smectic A phase the results fit an activation enthalpy for self-diffusion of about 168 kJ mol^-1. Similarities between the diffusion in the smectic E and B phases and in plastic solids are observed.     

Self-assembled structures of 4′-([2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine]-4′-yl)-[1,1′-phenyl]-4-carboxylic acid molecules induced by metal atoms on ag(111) surface

The self-assembled supramolecular structures of 4′-([2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine]-4′-yl)-[1,1′-phenyl]-4-carboxylic acid (Y) molecules on Ag(111) surface induced by metal elements have been studied by scanning tunneling microscopy. After annealing, the as-deposited monolayer of Y molecules shows four kinds of well-ordered structures due to the competition between dipole interaction, hydrogen bonding and Van der Waals interaction. Introduced Cu atoms drive ordered monolayer into a self-assembled supramolecular structure with bright spots. Deposited Ag atoms cause the monolayer change to a windmill shape self-assembled supramolecular structure. Though the Cu and Ag are in the same group of the periodic table, a Cu atom connects two COOH groups and an Ag atom trends to bind to three COOH groups during the formation of metal-organic bonding within both induced structures. Such result suggests that the self-assembled structures formed by metal-organic coordination bonding can be controlled by choosing the number of metal-organic coordination bonds, which can be helpful to design metal-organic molecular architectures comprising functional building blocks.     

Modification of the superconducting order parameter Δ(k) by long-range interactions

It is demonstrated that the inclusion of long-range intersite interactions qualitatively modifies the dependence of a superconducting gap on quasimomentum for both s-and d-symmetry types. In particular, the order parameter of a superconducting phase with $d_{x^2 - y^2 } $ the symmetry type depends on two amplitudes and has the form Δ(k)=Δ₁(cosk _x ?cosk _y )+Δ₂(cos2k _x ?cos2k _y ). In this case, the theoretical dependence of the critical temperature on the degree of doping agrees with the experimental dependence.     

A Spectroscopic Study of 2-[4′-(Dimethylamino)phenyl]-benzothiazole Binding to Insulin Amyloid Fibrils

The spectroscopic properties of 2-[4′-(dimethylamino)phenyl]-benzothiazole (BTA-2) in solution and in the presence of amyloid fibrils were investigated using absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. Solution studies show that BTA-2 forms micelles in aqueous solutions, but that the dye can be solvated upon the addition of acetonitrile (CH₃CN). BTA-2 binds to amyloid fibrils in solution leading to a characteristic blue-shift in the emission spectrum and an increase in fluorescence intensity. However, in solutions with increasing CH₃CN concentration, there was a marked decrease in binding of the BTA-2 to fibrils. Studies demonstrating the effect of BTA-2 concentration on binding were performed. A comparison with the standard amyloid fluorescent marker, thioflavin T (ThT), showed that BTA-2 is more fluorescent, making it an excellent dye to label amyloid samples.     

Entanglement in the supermolecular dimer [Mn4]2

This paper investigates the entanglement in the supermolecular dimer [Mn4]2 consisting of a pair of single molecular magnets with antiferromagnetic exchange-coupllng J. The conventional yon Neumann entropy as a function of the exchange-coupling is calculated explicitly for all eigenstates with the quantum number range from M = M1 ＋ M2 = -9 to 0. It is shown that the yon Neumann entropy is not a monotonic function of the coupling strength. However, it is significant that the entropy of entanglement has the maximum values and the minimum values for most eigenstates, which is extremely useful in the quantum computing. It also presents the time-evolution of entanglement from various initial states. The results are useful in the design of devices based on the entanglement of two molecular magnets.     

Special features of the long-range order – short-range order phase transition in FCC-based alloys

Results of x-ray analysis of the long-range order in FCC-based alloys with L1₂, L1₂(M), L1₂(MM), and D1_a superstructures are generalized. Regularities of the behavior of the long-range order parameter and average size of the thermal and periodic antiphase boundaries (APB) are traced, main mechanisms of temperature order-disorder phase transition are elucidated, and influence of the thermal and periodic APB on the special features of the order-disorder phase transition is revealed. The character of change of the periodic antiphase boundary density determines the special features of the order-disorder phase transition in alloys with longperiod superstructures.     

X-ray studies of the smectic B phase of the 4-bromobenzylidene-4′-alkoxyanilines

The results of X-ray studies of the nine members (4?÷?12) of the 4-bromobenzylidene-4′-alkyloxyaniline homologous series (nBBAA) in smectic B (SmB) and smectic A (SmA) phases are presented. Interestingly, no SmC phase was identified. The thickness of smectic layers in the SmA and SmB phases was estimated showing unexpectedly that in SmA it is bigger than in the SmB. For the SmB phase, orthorhombic unit cell parameters were determined as a function of temperature. The obtained data are discussed in relation to rotational dynamics.     

Thermal annealing effect on structural and optical properties of 2,9-Bis [2-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl] anthrax [2,1,9-def:6,5,10-d′e′f′] diisoquinoline-1,3,8,10 (2H,9H) tetrone (Ch-diisoQ) thin films

Thin films of 2,9-Bis [2-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl] anthrax [2,1,9-def:6,5,10-d′e′f′] diisoquinoline-1,3,8,10 (2H,9H) tetrone (Ch-diisoQ) were prepared by thermal evaporation technique. Structural properties of these (as-prepared and annealed at 373, 423, 473 and 523 K) films were determined by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, which showed that the grain sizes increasing by the annealing effect. The transmittance and reflectance of all Ch-diisoQ thin films were measured in the range 200–2500 nm. Some optical constants such as optical band gap (E _g ), dispersion energy (E _d ), single oscillator energy (E _o ) and optical dielectric constant at a higher frequency (ε _∞ ) were calculated at different annealing temperatures. The optical band gap of the samples is decreased with the increase of annealing temperatures due to the increasing of the π-dislocation. Finally, the values of the optical susceptibility, χ⁽³⁾, were found to be annealing dependence.     

Magnetic field-temperature phase diagram of the organic conductor α-(BEDT-TTF)2KHg(SCN)4

We present systematic magnetic torque studies of the “magnetic field-temperature” phase diagram of the layered organic conductor α-(BEDT-TTF)₂KHg(SCN)₄ at fields nearly perpendicular and nearly parallel to the highly conducting plane. The shape of the phase diagram is compared to that predicted for a charge-density-wave system in a broad field range.     

Low-temperature phase transition in α′-(BEDT-TTF)2IBr2 single crystals detected by the ESR method

A hysteresis of electron spin resonance spectra, which indicates a first-order phase transition, has been revealed in α′-(BEDT-TTF)₂IBr₂ single crystals in the temperature range 15–30 K. Two lines corresponding to the high-temperature and low-temperature phases have been observed in the ESR spectra.     

Temperature Dependence of the Critical Field of the Organic Superconductor κ-(BEDT-TTF)2Cu[N(CN)2]Br

JETP Letters - We present upper critical magnetic fields data for κ(BEDT-TTF)2Cu[N(CN)2]Br (hereafter k-Br), single crystals with the magnetic field applied either or perpendicular and...     

The phase behaviour of 4- n -pentylphenyl-4′- n -heptyloxythiobenzoate

New results of investigations of phase polymorphism for two substances, hydrogenous (7OS5-d₀) and partially deuterated (7OS5-d₂₆) have been presented. On the basis of measurements of the integrated “elastic window” intensity (EL), quasielastic neutron scattering (QNS) spectra and results obtained with the Transmitted Light Intensity (TLI) method, the metastable character of the SmC phase, that at constant temperature always transforms to the crystalline phase Cr₂, has been confirmed. Variations of the EL show a very clear hysteresis effect in the nematic and SmC phases as well as in solid phases. It was confirmed by a phase polymorphism in both investigated substances. Convergence of the EL and TLI methods was shown. The new phase situation of both hydrogenous and partly deuterated liquid crystals is presented.     

XY theoritical phase diagrams of the thiospinels AB2xB′2−2xS4

Randomly diluted frustrated helimagnetic and ferromagnetic systems with spinel structure, ZnCr_2xAl_2−2xS₄ and CdCr_2xln_2−2xS₄, respectively, were studied in the framework of the XY model. Using the replica method, the variational principle and taking into account exchange integrals up to the fourth nearest neighbour (nn), J₄ in the case of HM and up to the second (nn) J₂ in the case of FM, the T vs. x magnetic phase diagrams were established. The dramatic effect of frustration is evidenced, which leads to the disappearance of long-range order and the appearance of spin-glass state for great dilution. The obtained results are in agreement with those obtained by magnetic measurements.     

Electron phonon interactions and superconductivity in α ′ -TTF[Pd(dmit)2]2

A simple model is developed to understand superconductivity in α ^′ -TTF[Pd(dmit)₂]₂. We include electron-intra molecular and intermolecular phonon interactions as the mechanism of superconductivity. Intramolecular vibrations included are the eight symmetric A_g modes of the Pd(dmit)₂ molecule. Intermolecular vibrations included are the longitudinal acoustic and transverse acoustic (LA and TA) modes of the Pd(dmit)₂ column. All the electron-phonon coupling constants are calculated from first principles. We find that largest el-intramolecular vibration coupling is to the A_g mode with the highest frequency (1449 cm^-1). The el-intermolecular coupling to the LA mode is found to be larger than the total el-intramolecular couplings. We also find el-(TA)phonon coupling to be at least an order of magnitude smaller than el-(LA)phonon coupling. Estimate of superconducting transition temperature is comparable to experimental result. We also provide a detailed discussion, employing the results of recent numerical calculations on two-chain Hubbard model and the specific material parameters, on the relative importance of el-ph and Coulomb-origin mechanisms of superconductivity in α ^′ -TTF[Pd(dmit)₂]₂ and TTF[Ni(dmit) ₂ ] ₂ . Received 29 March 2001 and Received in final form 7 August 2001     

Molecular Orientation and Aggregation in the Langmuir-Blodgett Films of 4-[4′-(4″-Decyloxy Phenylazo) Naphthloxy] Butyl Trimethylammonium Dextran Sulfate Studied by Ultra-Violet and Infrared Spectroscopy

Infrared transmission, Reflectance-Absorption (RA) and Ultra-Violet (UV) spectra were measured for mono-and multi-layers Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films of 4-[4′-(4″-decyIoxy phenylazo)naphthloxy] butyl trimethylammonium bromide formed with SDS to study the molecular orientation and aggregation. The results indicate that the compound do not aggregate in the LB films, and the alkyl tail is nearly perpendicular to the substrate surface and the chromorphore part adopts trans-zigzag conformation. These results also suggest that the molecular orientation and aggregation are not depend upon the number of monolayers The comparison of infrared transmission and RA spectra indicates that the hydrocarbon chain is nearly perpendicular to the substrate surface, but the two rings in the chromophore part are tilted considerably from the surface normal.     

Shape phase transition in the odd Sm nuclei: effective order parameter and odd–even effect

Some binding energy related quantities serving as effective order parameters have been used to analyze the shape phase transition in the odd Sm nuclei. It is found that the signals of phase transition in the odd Sm nuclei are greatly enhanced in contrast to the even Sm nuclei. A further analysis shows that the transitional behaviors related to pairing in the Sm nuclei can be well described by the mean field plus pairing interaction model, with a monotonic decrease in the pairing strength G.