Structural Evolution of an Organic Semiconducting Molecule onto a Soft Substrate

The structural organization and evolution of the organic semiconducting molecule 2,7‐dioctyloxy[1]benzothieno[3,2‐b]‐benzothiophene on a soft matrix is studied. Thin films of a blend formed from polystyrene and the molecule were prepared by spin‐coating onto silicon substrates, which were subsequently studied by using a combination of microscopy and scattering techniques. The organic semiconducting molecule segregated to the surface and developed a phase with a different structure to the bulk, as in the case of a substrate induced phase observed previously. Under a solvent vapor annealing procedure, the growth of micrometer‐sized tetragonal crystals onto the polymer surface was observed, which was not evidenced for the silicon substrates.     

Liquid Crystal Elastomer Actuators from Anisotropic Porous Polymer Template

Controlling self‐assembly behaviors of liquid crystals is a fundamental issue for designing them as intelligent actuators. Here, anisotropic porous polyvinylidene fluoride film is utilized as a template to induce homogeneous alignment of liquid crystals. The mechanism of liquid crystal alignment induced by anisotropic porous polyvinylidene fluoride film is illustrated based on the relationship between the alignment behavior of liquid crystals and surface microstructure of anisotropic polyvinylidene fluoride film. Liquid crystal elastomer actuators with fast responsiveness, large strain change, and reversible actuation behaviors are achieved by the photopolymerization of liquid crystal monomer in liquid crystal cells coated with anisotropic porous films.

     

Transmission Holographic Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystals Based on a Siloxane Polymer

The low surface energy and the great immiscibility of poly (dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) with liquid crystals (LCs) are used in the fabrication of holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystals (HPDLCs). By adding increasing amounts of PDMS, the extent of the phase separation between the polymer and the LC, the LC channel width, and—eventually—also the diffraction efficiency of the film can be increased, while keeping the droplet size essentially the same. In addition, the presence of PDMS causes a decrease in the switching voltage and an increase in the response time. At an optimum content of PDMS (PUA40), a minimum switching voltage of 4 V μm^?1, a rise time of 0.20 ms, and a decay of 14.75 ms were obtained. Regarding the effect of the LC content, an overshoot of the diffraction efficiency was observed when the amount of LC exceeded 35 %, which can be attributed to droplet coalescence.     

主链型热致性液晶高分子芳香共聚酯的红外光谱研究

本文用傅里叶红外光谱法结合变温方法和偏振技术研究了主链型芳香共聚酯热致性高分子液晶。测定了光谱的变温性质以及液晶的有序度参数。结果表明分子链中液晶基元上苯环之间的相互作用在液晶相形成过程中起重要作用。液晶有序度参数与Roca和Yoon的理论值相一致。     

Lyotropic Liquid Crystal Templating of Groups 11 and 12 Metal Films

Liquid crystal templating has been used to produce metal films with nanometer‐sized pores. While successful templating procedures have been reported for metals from some groups of elements (e.g., groups 9 and 10), no such reports are available for other groups. This work investigates liquid crystal templating procedures for metals from groups 11 and 12. TEM indicates that permanent mesoporous structures are obtained for templated cadmium while copper forms mesoporous structures only temporarily. Silver, gold and zinc could not be templated at all. Reasons for these observations are briefly discussed, underlining the importance of various factors influencing the templating process.     

A Versatile Preparation Route for Thin Free‐Standing Liquid Single Crystal Elastomers

Summary: Thin films of nematic and cholesteric side‐chain polymers containing reactive benzophenone units can be macroscopically oriented by electric/magnetic fields or surface interactions. After UV‐irradiation, liquid single crystal elastomers (LSCEs) are formed. With this simple, new pathway, macroscopically ordered free‐standing LSCE films are easily accessible having a thickness in the range of about 100 nm to 100 μm as outlined in Figure.

     

NaCl对液-液扩散法生长溶菌酶晶体的影响

用动态光散射法研究了不同浓度NaCl对液—液扩散法生长溶菌酶晶体的影响， 并测量了晶体生长前后体系的Zeta电势．结果表明，NaCl浓度较高时，在溶菌酶溶 液—凝胶界面处会发生液液分层现象，溶液中一直存在较大的聚集体，生长出的晶 体质量较差．而在合适的NaCl浓度下，随着溶液Zeta电势降低，溶液中溶菌酶的大 的聚集体发生解聚集，生长出的晶体质量较高．     

液晶模板法合成CdS纳米线

以六方液晶为模反合成了ＣｄＳ纳米线,纳米线生长在表面活性剂分子形成的六方堆积的空隙水相内,呈平行排布,直径为１．５ｎｍ     

Nucleation and Growth of CeF3 and NaCeF4 Nanocrystals

Studying growth : The diffusion‐controlled kinetic (DCK) model and the surface chemical thermodynamics (SCT) model have been successfully applied to interpret the nucleation and growth mechanism of CeF₃ (see TEM images) and NaCeF₄ nanocrystals, and may generally give light to the size‐control and morphology prediction of rare‐earth fluorides at the nanoscale level.

     

塑料增强的新途径——热致液晶高聚物的增强作用

评价了热致液晶高聚物作为高性能成型材料的特点。综述了由增强性的热致液晶高聚物和热塑料聚合物基体组成的原位复合材料及其制备、结构和性能。也讨论了今后研究这一塑料增强新途径时要注意的诱导取向和相容性。     

热致液晶共聚酯的熔融行为及结晶结构研究

采用ＤＳＣ及ＷＡＸＤ手段对含对羟基苯甲酸热致液晶共聚酯的相变行为及结晶结构进行了初步研究。结果表明，聚合物中存在两种同属于正交晶系的不同堆积形态结晶结构，在相变上表现为双重熔融峰。     

Towards Organized Hybrid Nanomaterials at the Air/Water Interface Based on Liquid‐Crystal/ZnO Nanocrystals

The ability to self‐assemble nanosized ligand‐stabilized metal oxide or semiconductor materials offers an intriguing route to engineer nanomaterials with new tailored properties from the disparate components. We describe a novel one‐pot two‐step organometallic approach to prepare ZnO nanocrystals (NCs) coated with deprotonated 4‐(dodecyloxy)benzoic acid (i.e., an X‐type liquid‐crystalline ligand) as a model LC system (termed ZnO‐LC1 NCs ). Langmuir and Langmuir–Blodgett films of the resulting hybrids are investigated. The observed behavior of the ZnO NCs at the air/water interface is rationalized by invoking a ZnO‐interdigitation process mediated by the anchored liquid‐crystalline shell. The ordered superstructures form according to mechanism based on a Z nO‐ i nterdigitation p rocess mediated by l iquid c rystals (termed ZIP‐LC). The external and directed force applied upon compression at the air/water interface and the packing of the ligands that stabilize the ZnO cores drives the formation of nanorods of ordered internal structure. To study the process in detail, we follow a nontraditional protocol of thin‐film investigation. We collect the films from the air/water interface in powder form ( ZnO‐LC1 LB ), resuspend the powder in organic solvents and utilize otherwise unavailable experimental techniques. The structural and physical properties of the resulting superlattices were studied by using electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, X‐ray studies, dynamic light scattering, thermogravimetric analysis, UV/Vis absorption, and photoluminescence spectroscopy.     

Liquid-crystalline rigid-core semiconductor oligothiophenes: influence of molecular structure on phase behaviour and thin-film properties

The design, synthesis and properties of liquid-crystalline semiconducting oligothiophenes containing dithienothiophene (DTT), benzothiadiazole (BTZ) and carbazole (CBZ) rigid cores are described. The effect of molecular structure (shape, size and substitution) on their thermal behaviour and electrical properties has been investigated. Polarised optical microscopy (POM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analyses have revealed highly ordered smectic mesophases for most of the newly synthesised compounds. X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies performed at various temperatures have shown that the smectic order is retained in the crystalline state upon cooling across the transition temperature, affording cast films with a more favourable morphology for FET applications.     

Solution‐Based Direct Growth of Organic Crystals on an Active Channel Region for Printable Bottom‐Contact Organic Field‐Effect Transistors

The growth and self‐organization of organic crystals between a source (S) and drain (D) electrode by a method based on the use of a micropipette and isothermal evaporation of the solvent in a two‐liquid system led to the formation of organic‐crystal transistors (see polarized optical micrograph). The method is similar to ink‐jet printing and should be suitable for the fabrication of low‐cost and mass‐producible printed electronic devices.

     

纤维素芳族酯热致液晶对PET结晶成核作用的研究

用自制的热致液晶性纤维素芳族酯(CAE)作聚对苯二甲酸乙二醇酯(PET)的成核剂,研究了PET/CAE体系(CAE含量≤1%)在110～200℃温度范围内的等温结晶动力学特性.结果表明,CAE能显著加快PET结晶速率(Z),Z随结晶温度和CAE含量变化均有极大值Z_max(T_C)和Z_max(W_CAE),Z_max(T_C)对应的温度T_max随CAE含量增加而降低,CAE促进PET结晶的作用机理与普通成核剂不同.     

Study of the Growth of Capped ZnO Nanocrystals: A Route to Rational Synthesis

We report the study of complex and unexpected dependencies of nanocrystal size as well as nanocrystal‐size distribution on various reaction parameters in the synthesis of ZnO nanocrystals using poly(vinyl pyrollidone) (PVP) as a capping agent. This method establishes a qualitatively different growth mechanism to the anticipated Ostwald ripening behavior. The study of size‐distribution kinetics and an understanding of the observed non‐monotonic behaviors provides a route to rational synthesis. We used a simple, but accurate, approach to estimate the size‐distribution function of nanocrystals from the UV‐absorption spectrum. Our results demonstrate the accuracy and generality of this approach, and we also illustrate its application to various semiconducting nanocrystals, such as ZnO, ZnS, and CdSe, over a wide size range (1.8–5.3 nm).     

热致胆甾液晶的蓝相

简述了小分子蓝相的研究现状及聚合物稳定的小分子蓝相和聚合物蓝相的研究进展.通常小分子蓝相温域较窄,仅1℃左右.聚合物稳定的小分子蓝相温域达66℃,而我们展现的聚合物蓝相宽达300℃以上,甚至低于室温也有蓝相存在.所有的蓝相全部展示可见光的布拉格反射.     

B7 Liquid Crystal Filament Growth in Presence of Carbon Nanotubes

Liquid crystal phases formed from bent-core mesogens have attracted much interest of the liquid crystal research community, due to the manifestation of chirality effects from achiral molecules. One of the most elusive of the bent-core phases is the B7 phase, which at its early stage often forms in a helical filament fashion. We investigate the growth of such filaments in the presence of single-walled nanotubes to elucidate possible effects on the growth dynamics and helicity of B7 helical filaments. It is found that the filament width slightly decreases in comparison to the neat B7 material, suggesting a more tightly bound structure around the nanotubes, with the nanotubes likely acting as the core of the helical filament. No effects on pitch or periodicity of the helical superstructure is observed. The filament growth velocity quickly decreases as nanotubes are added to the B7 phase, indicating that a more tightly bound structure needs a longer time of formation. An observed buckling instability is of interest as a microscopic example for the study of nonlinear dynamics theories of filaments. The present investigation is thus of general importance for nanoparticle directed growth of filaments, which has applications in biomolecular growth and high tensile strength fibres.