Domain structure in a nematic layer under oscillatory Couette flow

The formation of a spatially modulated structure (domains) in a homeotropically aligned layer of a nematic liquid crystal (NLC) under an oscillatory Couette flow are described theoretically by using the hydrodynamic equations for an NLC which are linearized with respect to perturbations. The shear frequencies at which the phenomenon is determined by the inertial properties of the medium are considered. It is shown that the domain size is equal to the thickness h of an NLC layer and that the dependence of the threshold value of the shear amplitude u _th on the frequency ω and the layer thickness h is described by the expression u _th = const/(ωh²). The calculated results are compared with the experimental data.     

Domain structure of a nematic-liquid-crystal layer in low-frequency Couette flow

The spatially periodic structure arising in a homeotropic nematic-liquid-crystal (NLC) layer in low-frequency Couette flow is described theoretically. The analysis of this phenomenon is based on the hydrodynamic equations for NLCs, from which a self-consistent system of equations is selected for perturbations of hydrodynamic variables: the steady-state angle of the molecule rotation, the liquid flow, and the velocity of oscillating vortex flows. The formation of the periodic structure is explained by the phase delay of the velocities of the vortex oscillating flows forming in the deformed structure with respect to the shear velocity in the Couette flow. It is shown that at low frequencies this difference in the velocities is caused by the orientational waves near the layer boundaries. In the case of fixed orientation of molecules at the boundaries, the dependence of the threshold shear amplitude on the frequency and layer thickness is given by the relation u_th ～ (ωh²)^?1/4. The influence of the conditions for the molecule orientation at the layer boundaries on the above phenomenon is analyzed.     

Dependence of liquid crystallinity on molecular rigidity

A novel homologous series of liquid crystals (LC) of chalconyl derivatives is synthesized and studied with a view to understanding and establishing the effects of molecular structure on liquid crystal properties. The novel series consists of 12 homologues. Nematogenic LC property commences from C₃ and continues up to C₁₄ and the smectogenic mesophase is exhibited from C₄ to C₁₆. The C₃ homologue is a monotropic nematic and the rest of the homologues are enantiotropically smectic and nematic or only smectic (C₁₆). Transition curves Cr-Sm, Sm-N, Cr-I, and N-I behave in normal manner with exhibition of odd-even effect, showing phase behaviors of the series.     

Effects of Nematic Compounds with High Clearing Points on the Multiplexing Performance of Twisted Nematic Displays

The addition of nematic compounds with high clearing points (N_h) to multiplexable nematic liquid crystals decreases the temperature dependence of the threshold voltage of twisted nematic displays. This effect depends on the dielectric anisotropy of the nematic liquid crystals containing N_h, as well as on the increase in T _c. In the case of 4-n-butylphenyl 4'-(4”-butyibenzoyloxy) benzoate, the low threshold voltage was exceptionally compatible with a small temperature dependence of threshold voltage, and this result was attributed to the large temperature dependence of the dielectric anisotropy in comparison with that of nematic liquid crystals containing other N_h's.     

Synthesis and study of mesomorphic properties in rod-like chalconyl compounds

In order to investigate the influence of the central linking group and effect on flexibility on mesophase behavior of liquid crystal we have synthesized newly homologous series viz. 3-(4-Octyloxyphenyl)-1-(4′-n-alkoxy phenyl) prop-2-en-1-one (Series-l) consists of thirteen homologues (C₁ to C₈, C₁₀, C₁₂, C₁₄, C₁₆, C₁₈). Textures of a nematic phases are threaded or Schlieren type. The textures of smectic and nematic phase are directly judged from the heating and cooling condition. Group efficiency order for mesophases is derived on the basis of thermal stabilities from the comparative study of thermometric data determined from structurally analogous series. A transition curve as depicted in a phase diagram behaves in normal manner. Structural and conformational characterization of these new compounds had achieved by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, IR, and elemental analysis.     

Behavior of a nematic liquid crystal in oscillatory flow at weak surface anchoring

The effect of the surface viscosity on the orientational dynamics of a nematic liquid crystal in an oscillatory flow has been studied. For the shear and the Poiseuille flows, the approximate analytical solutions of the nematodynamic equations are obtained at small flow amplitudes. The frequency range of the oscillatory flow is determined, in which the surface viscosity strongly affects the optical response of a nematic layer. The results obtained are compared with the data of direct numerical simulation of the nematodynamic equations and the method for the experimental determination of surface viscosity is proposed.     

High frequency dynamics of liquid bismuth

The dynamic structure factor S(Q, ω) of liquid Bi was measured at 580 K in the Q range from 0.15 to 0.6 Å⁻¹ using inelastic neutron scattering. The obtained spectra clearly demonstrate the existence of well defined longitudinal propagating modes. A positive dispersion is found in the low Q region, where the mode velocity undergoes a transition between the hydrodynamic value and a high frequency value 20% larger. The damping of the excitations does not follow the hydrodynamic Q² trend and is stronger than in any metallic liquid investigated so far. The quasielastic lineshape contains a broad Q-independent Lorentzian contribution, other than a small sharp peak, which has yet been observed in liquid Hg and Ga.     

The Structure of Lyotropic Nematic Decylammoniumchloride and Bromide Systems by PMR of Monomethyltin Complexes and by Microscopic Studies

The pmr spectrum of methyltintrichloride in aqueous micellar solutions of decylammoniumchloride and KCl, and of decylammoniumbromide and KBr was investigated. The large scalar SnH couplings of 134.0 Hz and 130.2 Hz respectively indicate the formation of six coordination complexes CH₃SnCl₅ ^{- -} and CH₃SnBr₅ ^{- -} in the micellar solutions, but the geometrical structure of the CH₃Sn moiety is little affected by the complex formation. The complexes orient with their symmetry axis preferably parallel to the nematic axis.

In microscopic studies on selected mixtures a reversible first order phase transition was observed between nematic and isotropic micellar solution at about 45°C and a reversible transition between a lamellar smectic phase and the nematic phase at about 30°C that appears to be of second order. The optical observations and the orientation of the methyltin complex indicate that the nematic solutions have micelles of a bilayer structure.     

Flexoelectric Behavior of a Bimesogenic Liquid Crystal

The effective flexoelectric coefficient and flexoelectric polarization are investigated for a bimesogenic liquid crystal CBC11CB with a twist bend nematic phase (N_tb). The effective flexoelectric coefficients for CBC11CB in the ordinary nematic phase (N) are obtained to be much larger in comparison to conventional calamitics, and is almost twice higher for CBC11CB than that reported for another odd symmetric bimesogen. The flexoelectric polarization (P_f) in the N phase is found to be almost 2.5 times higher than in rod-like molecules. Additionally, P_f is obtained to be much larger in the N_tb phase than in the nematic phase.     

Electrical Conductivity of Liquid Crystal Mixtures with Induced Smectic Phases

The electrical conductivity of the two liquid crystal mixtures N-(4-ethoxybenzylidene)-4′-amino benzonitrile (PEBAB)/4,4′-di-n-hexyloxy-azoxybenze (HEXOAB) and 4-n-heptyloxy-4′-cyanobiphenyl (7 CBP)/HEXOAB, which exhibit induced smectic A phases is investigated. In the smectic phases, the conductivity anisotropy of the PEBAB/HEXOAB mixtures is negative at the lowest PEBAB concentrations; this behaviour is usually expected for a smectic layer structure. With increasing PEBAB concentration the anisotropy increases and becomes positive. Possibly, this is an indication for a growing double layer structure, which was observed in polar smectic phases. In the nematic phases the conductivity anisotropy of the pure HEXOAB is considerably reduced by adding a relatively small amount of the polar component. An addition of 10 mole% 7 CBP reduces the anisotropy ratio of the electrical conductivity to V = K_∥/K ₁ ≈ 0.2, which probably is the lowest value observed in a nematic phase so far. Besides the negative conductivity anisotropy, these mixtures also exhibit a positive anisotropy of the dielectric constant. They thus fulfil the conditions for inverse dynamic scattering.     

Identification of nematic lymoesophases with discotic and cylindrical micelles in lyotropic amphiphilic systems

Nematic lyomesophases with discotic (N _D) and cylindrical (N _C) micelles in complex multicomponent lyotropic systems based on alkyltrimethylammonium bromide detergents have been identified by the ¹H-²H-, and ¹³C-NMR methods and polarizationoptical microscopy. The difference in the structures of the N _D and N _C nematic phases is especially pronounced in the ¹³C-NMR spectra. Addition of chiral dopants to the lyomixture facilitates formation of the Ch _D and Ch _C cholesteric phases. According to the ¹³C-NMR spectra, the micellar mobility in the cholesteric lyomesophases decreases in comparison with the nematic ones. The alignment of lyocholesterics under the action of an external magnetic field is found.     

Liquid phase epitaxy of AlxGa1−xP on GaP and its application to double heterostructure light modulators

Single- and double-heterojunction structures of Al_xGa_1?xP/GaP were grown by liquid phase epitaxy and their opto-electronic properties were characterized. Using a starting growth temperature of 900°C, a background impurity level in undoped Al_0.5Ga_0.5P of 1 × 10¹⁶ cm^-3 (p-type) is obtained. The growth rate of Al_xGa_1?xP was very low. An almost intrinsic layer exists at the p-n Al_xGa_1?xP/GaP heterojunction interface due to the interdiffusion of the dopants. By using a rotating slide liquid phase epitaxial growth technique, we have made a high efficiency light modulator from a Al_xGa_1?xP/GaP double heterostructure. The employment of a dummy crystal resulted in very good reproducibility of the GaP waveguide layer thickness. Light is well confined in the GaP layer and a voltage difference, V_π, of 6 V is enough to obtain the phase difference, π, between TE and TM modes.     

Dependence of mesomorphism on geometrical shapes of isomeric and nonisomeric series of chalconyl esters

A meta substituted chalconyl ester homologous series: RO?C₆H₄?COO?C₆H₄(meta)?CO?CH?CH?C₆H₄?OC₁₂H_25(n)(para) is synthesized and studied with a view to understanding the effect of molecular substitution at meta position in a molecular structure on thermotropic liquid crystal properties. The novel homologous series consists of thirteen homologues (C₁ to C₁₈). All the homologues except the nonliquid crystal homologues C₁, C₂, C₃ are enantiotropic nematic with the absence of smectic properties. The transition and melting temperatures were determined by an optical polarizing microscopy (POM) equipped with a heating stage. Textures of a nematic phase are threaded or Schlieren. Transition curves (Cr-N/I and N-I) behave in normal manner except homologues between C₁₀ and C₁₄ of N-I curve, which show negligible deviation from normal and a smooth descending tendency. The N-I transition curve exhibits an odd-even effect up to C₁₀ homologue and then the odd-even effect disappears for higher homologues. Analytical and the spectral data support the molecular structures. Thermal stability for nematic is 107.3°C and the mesophase lengths range between 13.0°C and 35.0°C at the C₁₈ and C₁₂ homologues respectively. Group efficiency order for nematic is derived on the basis of thermal stability as ?OC₁₂H_25(n) (linear) > ?OC₁₂H_25(n) (nonlinear) > ?OC₁₆H₃₃ (nonlinear).     

Mesomorphism dependence on molecular rigidity

A novel ester homologous series of thermotropic liquid crystal (LC) has been studied with a view to understanding and establishing the relation between LC property and the molecular structure. The series consists of 11 members, the C₁–C₅ and C₁₆ members of the series are nonliquid crystals. LC properties commence from the C₆ homolog and continue up to the C₁₄ homolog as enantiotropic nematic and smectic in addition to nematic. Transition temperatures of the homologs were determined by an optical polarizing microscope equipped with a heating stage. Textures of nematic phase are threaded or Schlieren and that of smectic is focal conic of the type-A. Analytical and spectral data confirm the structures of homologs. Thermal stability for nematic is 93 °C and 136 °C, respectively. The N–I and Sm–N transition curves of phase diagram do not exhibit odd-even effect. The N–I transition curve partly behaves in an abnormal manner. The Cr–I and Sm–N transition curves behave in normal manner. The LC behavior of the present series is compared with structurally similar known homologous series.     

Effect of polarity of smectic Ad molecules on the induction of the nematic phase in binary mixtures of smectics A1 and Ad

The phase diagrams are determined of binary mixtures composed of 4-n-alkylbiphenylates 4-cyanobiphenyl (n-CBB)-smectics A₁, for n < 8 and esters of 4-(trans-4′-n-alkylcyclohexyl)benzoic acid (10CPCHB, 10NPCHB, 10FOPCHB)-smectics A_d. The effect is studied of the smectic layer spacing ratio and polarity of the components on the induction of the nematic phase in the tested series of compounds. The virtual N S_Ad phase transition points in series n-CBB are estimated and the effect is discussed of the stability of the smectic phase and polarity of the molecules of the mixture components on the width and position of the nematic gap.     

Crystal structure of urusovite Cu[AlAsO5: A new type of a tetrahedral aluminoarsenate polyanion

The crystal structure of the new mineral urusovite Cu[AlAsO₅] has been determined (monoclinic system, sp. gr. P2₁/c, a = 7.335(1) Å, b = 10.255(1) Å, c = 5.599(1) Å, β = 99.79(1)°, V = 415.0(1) ų, Z = 4). The structure is solved by direct methods and refined to R = 0.048 (wR = 0.103). The structure is built by open-branched {uB, _∞ ² } [AlAsO₅]^2? layers parallel to the (100) plane. The layers consist of two-link chains of _∞ ¹ [Al₂O₆] tetrahedra, which are parallel to the z-axis and are connected through the [AsO₄]-groups. The sharing-edges [CuO₅] tetragonal pyramids link the aluminoarsenate layers to form a three-dimensional framework. The established layer is the second example of an tetrahedral aluminoarsenate polyanion.     

The influence of the boundary conditions on the character of the phase transition nematic-smectic C

The possibility is investigated for inducing the intermediate smectic A structure in substances with nematic and smectic C phases by the boundary forces. Different geometries are used: homeotropic, homogeneous and tilted under a different angle toward the supporting substrates of the liquid crystal cell. At homeotropic and at tilted orientation where the molecules tilt toward the supporting substrates is different from the molecule tilt in the smectic layer, an intermediate smectic A structure is observed at the transition nematicsmectic C in a narrow temperature interval. In this case the phase transition nematicsmectic C extends and transforms into phase transition of second order. At homogeneous orientation and at tilted orientation of an angle equal to the molecule tilt in the smectic layer, the transition nematic-smetic C carried out in two stages, as partially it begins on the surface still in the nematic phase and terminates at the temperature of the phase transition N-Sc. The influence of the boundary forces depends essentially on the energy of the phase transition N-S_C of the substances.     

Specific features of electromechanical conversion in various liquid crystalline phases

Electromechanical effect in various liquid crystalline phases—nematic, smectic A, and smectic C—is studied. It is shown that a liquid crystal (LC) sample in the nematic phase does not differ from an electromechanical converter containing an isotropic dielectric and exhibits no features characteristic of LCs at electromechanical conversion. A phenomenon similar to the piezoelectric effect may occur in ferroelectric LCs due to their biaxiality.     

Mesomorphic properties of liquid crystalline compounds with chalconyl central linkage in two phenyl rings

In order to investigate the influence of the central linking group and the effect of flexibility on mesomorphism, we have synthesised a newly homologous series 3-(3-butoxyphenyl)-1-(4-n-alkoxy phenyl) prop-2-en-1-one (series-l) consisting of 13 homologues C₁–C₈, C₁₀, C₁₂, C₁₄, C₁₆ and C₁₈. In the present series, mesophase commences from the C₆ homologue. C₁–C₅ homologues did not exhibit liquid crystalline (LC) property, while C₆–C₁₂ homologues exhibited an enantiotropic nematic phase and the rest of the homologues C₁₄–C₁₈ displayed monotropic SmC and nematic mesophase. The transition temperatures of the synthesised compounds were determined by an optical polarising microscopy equipped with a heating stage. All newly synthesised compounds were confirmed by ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, IR and elemental analysis.     

Orientational Order and Linear Dichroism of a Water Soluble Porphine in a Lyotropic Nematic Liquid Crystal

Aqueous lyotropic nematic liquid crystals can be homogeneously oriented by magnetic fields and are therefore well suited to be used as anisotropic solvents for optical polarization studies of water soluble dye molecules. The potassium laurate (KL)/KCl/H₂O nematic phase, composed of rod-like or cylindrical micelles, was used as a matrix for the study of orientational order and linear dichroism of a substituted free-base porphine (TPPS₄). The results indicate that a significant portion of porphine molecules are incorporated into the micelles with their planes on the average perpendicular to the optic axis of the lyotropic rods. The order parameter of TPPS₄ is much higher in this system than in other nematic lyophases such as KL/decanol/H₂O in which preferential hydrogen bonding occurs between TPPS₄ molecules and the hydroxyl groups of decanol molecules which presumably occupy the surface of the cylindrical micelles. All observed electronic transitions in the 350-700 nm range are found to be polarized in the plane of the porphine ring.