IR spectroscopic study of molecular aggregation in condensate films of polar liquid crystals

Molecular association in polar liquid crystals influences almost all physical and chemical properties of these compounds and is of great importance for their use as materials for molecular electronics. There are only few reports available that present estimations of the degree of dimerization and enthalpy via dielectric measurements of bulk samples and of solutions in non-polar solvents. In the present work, the molecular aggregation of liquid-crystalline 4-pentyl-4′-cyanobiphenyl (5CB), 4-pentyl-4′-cyanophenyl pyridine (5Py), 4-pentyl-4′-cyanophenylcyclohexane (5CH), 4-octyl-4′cyanobiphenyl (8CB) and 4-octyloxy-4′-cyanobiphenyl (8OCB) in molecular condensate films and inert matrices has been studied by low-temperature reflection and transmission vibrational spectroscopy in a wide temperature range from 80 to 330 K. A red shift of the CN stretching vibration band was considered to be due to the formation of molecular aggregates. The factors affecting their thermodynamic stability are considered.     

Specific intermolecular interactions in a heterogeneous system benzophenone-titanium dioxide

IR spectroscopy methods (experiment, theoretical simulation) have been applied to study the structural features and intermolecular interactions in a two-component heterogeneous nano-size system benzophenone-titanium dioxide (BPh-TiO₂). IR spectra of the sample were recorded at room temperature within the range 400–4000 cm^?1. The spectra display hydrogen bonding determining the intermolecular interactions between titanium dioxide, BPh molecules, and water in the near-surface layers of nanocrystalline TiO₂ particles. IR spectra of free BPh molecules, water, model H-complexes of BPh with water, and the fragment of hydrated titania surface (BPh…HOH and BPh…Ti≡) have been simulated. Experimental and theoretical spectra were analyzed in the region of stretching vibrations of carbonyl, hydroxyl, and other groups sensitive to a variation of intermolecular interactions. It is found that hydrogen bonding in the near-surface layers of nanocrystalline TiO₂ particles in the two-component heterogeneous nanosystem BPh-TiO₂ gives rise to the formation of complexes BPh-O-Ti(OH)-O-, BPh…HOH, along with complexes of-O-Ti(OH)-O-with water and pure water complexes.     

Temperature-driven luminescence switching of europium(III) in a glass dispersed liquid crystal film

Glass dispersed liquid crystal films doped with the tris(β-diketonato)europium(III) complex [Eu(dbm)₃(gly)] (Hdbm=dibenzoylmethane, gly=1,2-dimethoxyethane) were prepared. The liquid crystal host was 4-pentyl-4′-cyanobiphenyl (5CB); a mixed silica–titania glass with a refractive index close to that of 5 CB was chosen as the glass matrix. The photoluminescence intensity was measured as a function of temperature. A strong intensity change was observed at the nematic-to-isotropic transition.     

Structure peculiarities and optical properties of nanocomposite: 5CB liquid crystal–CTAB-modified montmorillonite clay

The effects of the modification of natural layered montmorillonite (MMT) clay by cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) cations on the structure and optical properties of the composite material based on this mineral (4.5%mass) and a nematic liquid crystal (LC), 4-pentyl-4'-cyanobiphenyl (5CB), have been investigated. As shown by small-angle X-ray diffraction and infrared (IR) spectroscopy experiments, this modification results in a significant expansion of the interplane spaces in the MMT nanoparticles and a considerable growth of their surface affinity to the 5CB molecules, which allows the LC molecules to penetrate into the MMT galleries and additionally expand these galleries. According to IR studies, this heterosystem possesses van der Waals interactions between its components on the phase separation boundary and, as a result, orientation alignment of the molecules in the near-surface layers occurs. These interactions specify the electro-optical properties of the composite. When an electric field is applied to a system, the light transmittance of the material increases due to the induced orientation of the LC dimers. This LC ordering remains even after the voltage is shut off, i.e. the system shows an electro-optical memory effect.     

Phase equilibrium in binary liquid-crystal mixtures of 4-n-pentyl-4′-cyanobiphenyl and phenyl benzoates

Differential scanning calorimetry and polarization microscopy were used to study the phase diagram of a mixture of nematic liquid crystals, 4-n-pentyl-4′-cyanobiphenyl and 4-n-octyloxyphenyl-4′-hexylbenzoate.     

Molecular organization in binary mixtures of derivatives of naphthalenebicarboxylic acid and naphthoylenebenzimidazole with a liquid crystal in two-dimensional layers

Langmuir films of some dichroic dyes, namely derivatives of naphthalenebicarboxylic acid and derivatives of naphthoylenebenzimidazole, as well as of their mixtures with the liquid crystals 4-octyl-4′-cyanobiphenyl (8CB) and 4-pentyl-4″-cyano-p-terphenyl (5CT) were prepared. Surface pressure/mean molecular area isotherms were recorded from which some information about the alignment of molecules in a monomolecular layer at an air–water interface could be deduced. It was found that the properties of the monolayer are highly sensitive to the molecular structure of the side groups substituted on the main skeleton of the dye molecule, and to the mixture composition. Moreover, information about the miscibility or the phase separation of the two components in Langmuir films formed from dye/liquid crystal mixtures was obtained by using the excess area criterion and surface pressure rules.     

Photoluminescence of a 5CB liquid crystal–organomontmorillonite nanoparticle heterocomposite

Photoluminescence (PL) of a heterocomposite, consisting of the nematic liquid crystal (LC) 4-pentyl-4´-cyanobiphenyl (5CB) and anisometric nanoparticles of montmorillonite (MMT) clay, modified by cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) has been investigated at 4.2 and 300 K. The incorporation of this organoclay (B4) to 5CB decreases the emission intensity by 7–8 times due to efficient resonant quenching of the exciting energy by the organoclay. The spectrum shifts to a long-wave region, with this effect being considerably larger at low temperatures. Graphical separation of complex bands, corresponding to the bulk 5CB and 5СВ?+?В4 heterosystem at both temperatures revealed that the presence of the organoclay resulted in a significant growth of LC dimer quantity, shifting spectra towards longer wavelengths. Changes in the 5CB luminescence under organoclay influence can be explained by quite strong interphase interactions specified earlier by infrared spectroscopy between the MMT surface and LC, and by a realisation of more flat conformations of 5CB molecules. Confinement effects prevent full crystallisation of 5CB in the 5CB?+?B4 composite, and LC dimer structures located in the organoclay near-surface layers on the outer surface of the nanoparticles and inside its galleries remain in a larger amount, at low temperature, when compared to bulk 5CB. The remaining LC crystallises and photoluminescence from the 5CB monomers becomes intense.     

Small angle X-ray scattering study of chiral side chain liquid crystalline polymers in 5CB and 8CB solvents

Small angle X-ray scattering was used to examine the new chiral side chain liquid crystalline polyacrylates (P_4M and P_11M) and their mixtures (2?wt?%) in the low molar mass nematogenics 4′-n-pentyl-4-cyanobiphenyl (5CB) and 4′-octyl-4-cyanobiphenyl (8CB). Complementary data were obtained by polarizing optical microscopy. In agreement with previous studies, the mesophases of the bulk polymers show a dependence on the aliphatic spacers linking the mesogenic units to the polymer backbone. Chiral nematic and smectic A₁ phases were observed for the polyacrylates with four (P_4M) and eleven (P_11M) methylene units as spacers, respectively. In solution with 5CB and 8CB, P_4M exhibits an injected smectic phase, whereas P_11M maintains the smectic arrangement already observed in the bulk, with swollen smectic layers. In all the mixtures, layer stability was found to depend on the liquid crystal used as solvent, as well as on the temperature. At temperatures corresponding to the nematic 5CB and 8CB, the coexistence of two mesophases was observed in the mixtures. Moreover, with the liquid crystal solvents in the isotropic phase, microstructures suspended in the solvent matrix containing the liquid crystalline polymer in the smectic arrangement were detected.     

The nematic-isotropic two phase region in mixtures of quasi-spherical solutes in alkylcyanobiphenyls: An E.S.R. study using tempone as probe

The transitional behaviour of binary mixtures, each containing a non-mesomorphic quasi-spherical solute at a low mole fraction in a nematogenic solvent, has been investigated by E.S.R. spectroscopy using 4-oxo-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidinyl-1-oxy (tempone) as a spin probe. This approach makes use of the smaller coupling constant obtained for the spin probe in the orientationally ordered nematic phase relative to that obtained in the isotropic phase. The solutes included Et₄C (tetraethylmethane) and R ₄Sn (R = C^b2bH₅, n-C_{3 H 7} and nC_b4H₉). The solvents were 4-n-pentyl-4′-cyanobiphenyl (5CB) 4-n-hexyl-4′-cyanobiphenyl (6CB) and 4-n-heptyl-4′-cyanobiphenyl (7CB). This fast approach compares favourably with other studies. In addition it provides the tempone spectral parameter, f, which is a relative measure of the fraction of the nematic phase at different temperatures within the two phase region.     

Alignment of liquid crystal and dichroic dye molecules in mixed Langmuir and Langmuir-Blodgett films

A study of dichroic dye-liquid crystal mixtures (guest-host systems) in monolayers formed at a gas-liquid interface (Langmuir films) and at a solid surface (Langmuir-Blodgett films) has been made. As a host 4- n -octyl-4′-cyanobiphenyl (8CB) or 4- n -pentyl-4″-cyano- p -terphenyl (5CT) were chosen, while three dichroic azo dyes with various molecular structures were used as guest species. The dyes were added to the liquid crystal matrices at a concentration corresponding to the whole range of molar fractions and the surface pressure-mean molecular area isotherms for Langmuir films were recorded. On the basis of the isotherms, conclusions about the molecular organization and the miscibility of the components in the ultrathin films were drawn. The Langmuir films were transferred onto the quartz plates at surface pressures below the collapse point. The polarized absorption spectra of the Langmuir-Blodgett films were recorded and information about the alignment and intermolecular interactions in the mixtures of the non-amphiphilic dichroic dyes and the liquid crystals with strongly polar terminal groups were obtained.     

巯甲基二苯甲酮的合成

以NaI为催化剂,以4-溴甲基二苯甲酮或4,4’-二(溴甲基)二苯甲酮为原料,采用硫脲法合成了4-巯甲基二苯甲酮(新化合物,产率75%)或4,4’-二(巯甲基)二苯甲酮(产率83%),其结构经1H NMR,13C NMR,IR和元素分析表征。     

Complexation and chemical transformations in the ternary system silver-carbon tetrachloride-mesogenic cyanobiphenyl at low temperatures

The possibility of cryoformation and chemical transformations of new metallomesogenic complexes, exemplified by co-condensates of silver with carbon tetrachloride in the matrix of mesogenic 4-n-pentyl-4′-cyanobiphenyl, has been studied by EPR. Four types of paramagnetic products were detected in this system at low temperatures: biligand π-complexes of silver atoms with cyanobiphenyl molecules; σ-complexes of silver atoms with the cyanobiphenyl molecule stabilized by an additional electron acceptor ligand CCl₄; trichloromethyl radical adducts of silver chloride — AgCl·CCl ₃ ^? and silver nanoclusters formed as a result of aggregation of silver atoms. Thermal stability of these particles was examined and a possible mechanism of their chemical transformations was proposed.     

Molecular organization in two-dimensional films of liquid II. Langmuir and Langmuir-Blodgett films of a perylene-like dye mixed with liquid crystals having a terminal cyano group crystalline mixtures

Langmuir and Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films of a perylene-like compound and its binary mixtures with 4-octyl-4'-cyanobiphenyl (8CB) and 4-pentyl-4"-cyano-p-terphenyl (5CT) have been studied. On the basis of the surface pressure-area isotherms, the molecular organization on the air-water interface has been estimated. Information about the miscibility or the phase separation of components in the binary mixtures has been obtained. The spectroscopic study of the LB films has allowed conclusions to be drawn about the arrangement of the molecules on the quartz slides. The fluorescence spectra of the LB films of the perylene-like compound have revealed the formation of self-aggregates.     

Production and spectroscopic study of low-temperature silver complexes with mesogenic cyanobiphenyl derivatives

Metal-containing liquid-crystalline systems were obtained by co-condensation of metallic silver vapour with evaporated liquid-crystalline 4-pentyl-4′-cyanobiphenyl (5CB) under conditions of molecular beams. A comprehensive infra-red and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopic study of Ag-5CB film samples of different component ratios at 80 K shows the existence of Ag-5CB complexes owing to interactions of Ag with the π-electrons of the CN bond of cyanobiphenyl molecules.     

NHC‐Pd complex based on 1,3‐bis (4‐ethoxycarbonylphenyl) imidazolium chloride: synthesis,structure and catalytic activity in the synthesis of axially chiral benzophenone hydrazone

A novel NHC–Pd complex of 1,3‐bis (4‐ethoxycarbonylphenyl) imidazolium chloride has been synthesized and characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, IR and X‐ray single‐crystal diffraction studies. TG analysis shows that the NHC‐Pd complex is stable under 208 °C. The catalytic activities have been explored for the synthesis of axially chiral N‐(2′‐methoxy‐1,1′‐binaphthalen‐2‐yl) benzophenone hydrazone. The result indicates that the novel NHC‐Pd complex can achieve better catalytic activity than the Pd‐phosphine catalysts in the synthesis of axially chiral N‐(2′‐methoxy‐1,1′‐binaphthalen‐2‐yl) benzophenone hydrazone.     

The mutual influence of a liquid crystalline medium and chiral dopants of 1R,4R-<Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-mentane-3-one 2-arylidene derivatives dissolved in it

Molecular dynamics computer simulation and quantum chemistry methods were used to study the influence of nematic liquid crystalline 4-n-pentyl-4′-cyanobiphenyl on the conformations of chiral dopant molecules of 1R,4R-n-menthane-3-one 2-arylidene derivatives and the influence of these chiral dopants on the conformation of the liquid crystal. The simulation results are compared with the available experimental data.     

Molecular organization in two-dimensional films of liquid crystalline mixtures III. Langmuir films of binary mixtures of liquid crystal materials with terminal CN o r NCS group

Langmuir films of binary mixtures of the following liquid crystal materials: 4-octyl-4′-cyanobiphenyl (8CB) or 4-pentyl-4″-cyano-p-terphenyl (5CT) with 4-(trans-4'-octylcyclohexyl)isothiocyanatobenzene (8CHBT), trans-4-octyl(4′-cyanophenyl)cyclohexane (8PCH) or 4-octyl4′-isothiocyanatobiphenyl (8BT) were investigated. Surface pressure-mean molecular area isotherms were recorded at various mixture compositions. It was found that only liquid crystal materials for which the molecules have a terminal -CN group are able to form a stable monolayer at the air-water interface. Moreover, information about the miscibility or the phase separation of the two components in the mixures was obtained by using the excess area criterion and surface phase rules.     

Modelling of the phase transition of nanoscale confined liquid crystal

By dividing the bulk melting entropy, a simple thermodynamic model without any adjustable parameter for the size-dependent melting transition temperature has been extended to interpret the melting and freezing transitions of liquid crystals (LCs) confined in nanopores. The results show that as the size of the nanopore decreases, the melting, clearing and freezing transition temperatures of LCs drop. The transition temperatures directly depend on the density of hydrogen bond at the interface between inner pore wall and LC molecules. The model predictions agree well with the corresponding experimental results of LCs p-azoxyanisole and 4-pentyl-4′-cyanobiphenyl confined in nanopores.     

Spectroscopic and thermodynamic studies of binary mixtures composed of nematogenic and non-nematogenic components

The effect of a non-nematic guest, tetracyanoethylene (TCNE), on the liquid-crystaline state of the host, 4-n-pentyl-4′-cyanobiphenyl (5CB), has been investigated. It was shown by absorption spectroscopy that TCNE forms a 1 : 1 charge transfer complex with 5CB in the nematic phase, similar to that in the isotropic solution. The effect of TCNE on the transition temperature was investigated by comparison with a normal guest, 2,3-dimethylbutane (DMB), which has a molecular volume comparable with that of TCNE but has no specific interaction with the host. TCNE was found to lower the transition temperature much more strikingly than DMB, suggesting the peculiar effect of complex formation. The theoretical background is given based on molecular field theory.     

Molecular organization in two-dimensional films of liquid I. Langmuir films of binary mixtures of liquid crystals with a crystalline mixtures terminal cyano group

The Langmuir films of two liquid crystal materials, 4-octyl-4'-cyanobiphenyl (8CB) and 4-pentyl-4"-cyano-p-terphenyl (5CT), and of their mixtures have been studied by recording surface pressure-area isotherms and Brewster angle microscopy (BAM) images. The pure liquid crystals revealed very different characters of the surface pressure-area isotherms indicating different organization of the molecules and different molecular interactions in the monolayer at the water-air interface. The surface pressure-area isotherms of Langmuir films formed from 8CB/5CT mixtures give evidence for phase separation of the components over the whole range of molar fractions. Similar conclusions have been drawn on the basis of BAM image analysis.