Dielectric Spectroscopy of Ferronematics Based on 6CHBT Liquid Crystal

In our study, the dielectric behaviour of the rod-like liquid crystal (6CHBT) doped with magnetic nanoparticles of spherical shape was investigated by means of dielectric spectroscopy in the frequency range from 20 Hz to 2 MHz. A low frequency dielectric dispersion in the nematic and isotropic phases of the pure liquid crystal (LC) has been assigned to the space charge polarization. After doping the host LC with the magnetic nano particles, a nearly Debye-like relaxation process was observed with the temperature dependence obeying the Arrhenius law. Considering a possible electric double layer formation on the particle surfaces, the detected relaxation process in the doped LC can be associated with the electric double layer polarization. The experimental results point out that in the measured frequency range the space charge and interfacial effects constitute the main dielectric response. Any anchoring effects were not observed and are therefore expected to appear in higher frequencies.     

Mechanical amorphization in the Ni---Zr system investigated by positron lifetime spectroscopy

The process of solid-state amorphization induced by high-energy ball milling of binary mixture of crystalline elemental powders is investigated by positron lifetime spectroscopy along with X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry. The experiments are performed on compacted samples of powders mechanically alloyed over a wide composition range (state range) at different milling times (state times) and intensities. The positron lifetime spectra is decomposed into two components. The short-lived component is composition and milling-time dependent. The second lifetime component, found during the initial stages of the milling process, appears to be due to annihilation from states trapped at crystalline interface joints. The results indicate that the solid-state reactions during ball milling involve the transformation and disappearance of the crystalline interface joints in the powder particles.     

GaSb/InAs heterojunctions grown by MOVPE: Effect of gas switching sequences on interface quality

The GaSb/InAs interface can be grown in two quite different ways either with In and Sb atoms forming the interface “InSb-like” or Ga and As atoms forming the interface “GaAs-like”. This is a result of both the Group III and Group V atoms changing at the interface. Different interfaces have been achieved in GaSb/InAs heterojunctions grown by atmospheric MOVPE using different gas switching sequences and the consequent changes in the electrical behaviour have been assessed using low field magnetotransport measurements. The results range from very poor (“GaAs-like”) to excellent (a particular “InSb-like”) interface. A further comparison is made to a previously used growth sequence for these structures. The effect of pauses during the interface sequence has also been investigated.     

On the engulfment of spherical particles by a moving ice-liquid interface

Second phase particles suspended in a liquid undergoing solidification are either repelled and swept along by the advancing solid-liquid interface or, beyond a critical velocity of the solidification front, engulfed and encapsulated into the solid phase. In this study critical encapsulation velocities were determined for spherical latex particles at an advancing ice-water interface by means of a gradient freezing stage attached to a light microscope. The influence of the particle radius, the temperature gradient at the planar solidification interface, and the viscosity of the melt has been investigated. The experimental data confirm the theoretically predicted 1/R relationship between the particle radius and the critical growth velocity V_c. The effect of the temperature gradient can be described by a power law (V_c ∝ G^1/4), but its influence on V_c may be even weaker. The inverse proportionality between V_c and the dynamic viscosity of the melt may also be weaker than it would result from Stokes' law. The critical distance between particle and solidification interface was calculated to be in the range of 0.76 to 16.3 nm depending on the theoretical model applied. The resulting Hamaker constant of the system ice/polystyrene/water is -1.7 x 10^-21 J.     

Mesomorphic study of novel chalconyl-ester-based nonisomeric series: Synthesis and characterization

Liquid-crystalline elastomers (LCEs) possess large and equilibrium reversible anisotropic dimensional change in response to applied stimuli. The deformation behavior demonstrated by current LCE materials under the stimuli are generally determined by their own geometries and the alignment distributions of liquid crystal (LC) units in the LCE matrices. Here we report a LCE whose synthesis was through a two-stage crosslinking coupled with a mechanical reshaping process, where the shape was mechanically reset before the final crosslinking. It demonstrated reversible memory and change between the initial geometries formed during the first crosslinking stage and any reshaped geometries under the stimuli. Its deformation is not influenced by the geometries and the alignment distributions of LC units in the LCE matrix. This characteristic in LCEs holds promise in a wide range of application researches requiring sophisticated functions and smart structures.     

Particle pushing: the attachment of particles on the solid-liquid interface during fluid flow

We have measured the number of insoluble particles that attach to artificial interfaces under different flow conditions. In downward laminar flow, very few particles are attached even if there is a high concentration of particles near the interface and the number of particles attached is independent of the concentration of particles. In downward turbulent flow, the number of particles attached to an interface depends on the roughness of the surface, the direction of fluid flow, the size and density of particles, and the orientation of the interface. In horizontal flow, the dominant factor is sedimentation. An increase in fluid flow tends to reduce the number of particles attached to the interface, and thus the number of particles trapped. A crude criterion for the attachment of particles to a rough interface is proposed.     

Application of a microrheology technique to measure the viscosity of disodium cromoglycate liquid crystal

Although the science of rheology is well established, some important challenges still persist to measure the viscoelastic properties of complex fluids, such as biological solutions and liquid crystals (LC). In this work, we present a method, based on the calculation of the step length of Brownian particles, to measure the effective local viscosity sensed by microscopic objects in the LC host. This approach allowed us to quantify the anisotropy of the viscosity, and it could also be extended to measure the local viscosity in other nonhomogeneous media. We also present a new guided light dark-field microscopy technique that was used to track particles during our experiments.     

Large-scale synthesis of ultrafine Si nanoparticles by ball milling

Si nanoparticles have been synthesized by ball-milling of graphite and SiO₂ powders. The solid-phase reaction, C(graphite)+SiO₂→Si+CO₂, was found to be a novel technique for fabrication of ultrafine Si particles. The reduced Si in the powder assembled as nanoparticles with a wide range of diameters. Multiple-peak structures were observed in the photoluminescence spectra of the Si nanoparticles at room temperature. The peak energies were found to coincide with the PL peak pinning energies previously reported in porous Si. Thus, the fine structures of luminescence spectra could be attributed to the size quantization of the Si nanoparticles formed via solid-phase reaction during ball-milling.     

Ordered gold nanostructures on sapphire surfaces: Fabrication and optical investigations

The possibilities of obtaining ordered gold nanoarrays on sapphire surfaces with oriented nanorelief are demonstrated. The structures are morphologically described using atomic force microscopy data. A study of the angular dependence of the reflectivity in the visible range of electromagnetic waves has revealed some features which are likely to indicate surface plasmon-polariton excitation at the air-gold interface under exposure to p-polarized radiation. The experimental results are found to be in good agreement with the theoretical calculations.     

The Effect of Solid and Liquid Inclusions on Morphology of Crystallization Front

The interaction between crystallization front and solid particles was studied for substances characterized by the normal growth mechanism (continuous growth). It has been measured the critical velocity below which the particle of radius R is repulsed by moving interface and above it is captured. It has been shown that critical velocity is proportional to R⁻(1.4–1.8) what satisfactorily agrees with Chernov-Temkin's theory. Data have been received about change of interface morphology at capture of solid particles for growth from pure and impurity-contained melt. The dendrites have been found to split at interaction with particles and concentration inhomogeneities. Taking for example Al-Cu alloy, possibility has been shown to disperse the dendritic structure by formation concentration inhomogeneities in the melt.     

Mesomorphic dependence on molecular rigidity by central bridge and homo–hetero ring systems

A novel homologous series of thermotropic derivatives containing a heterocyclic ring was synthesized and studied with a view to understanding and establishing a relation between liquid crystal (LC) properties and the molecular structure of chalconyl derivative in general. The series comprises 12 homologues, of which smectogenic LC property commences from the decyloxy (C₁₀) homologue and continues for C₁₂, C₁₄, and C₁₆ homologues. Homologues C₁ to C₈ are non-liquid crystals. Exhibition of nematogenic mesophase is totally absent. Transition and melting temperatures were determined by an optical polarizing microscope equipped with a heating stage. Spectral and analytical data confirmed the molecular structures of homologues. The textures of smectic mesophase are A or C, and are determined by a miscibility method. The average thermal stability of the smectic phase is 113.57°C. The mesogenic phase length ranges between 4.1°C and 11.1°C. Thus, it is a middle-ordered melting-type series of shorter range of liquid crystallinity with absence of nematogenic character. Some LC properties of the present series are compared with a structurally similar known homologous series.     

Crystal structure and optoelectronic properties of antiaromatic compound 3,4,9,10-tetrahydrodicyclopenta[<Emphasis Type="Italic">cd,lm</Emphasis>]perylene

An antiaromatic compound 3,4,9,10-tetrahydrodicyclopenta[cd,lm] perylene, was synthesized by a coupling reaction. Its crystal structure was determined by X-ray diffraction. Crystal structures shows that the antiaromatic compounds are aggregated to J-aggregation materials. It further results ultrafast charge separation at organic interface and electron transfer in the aggregation materials. UV-vis spectrum shows that title compound has a broad UV-vis light absorbance at the wavelength range from 250 to 470 nm and a 2.67 eV energy gap value between the highest occupied and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy levels.     

光子晶体多组元缺陷态问题研究

缺陷态光子晶体可以用于制作良好的谐振器、偏振器、滤光器等光学器件,具有重要的应用价值。本文发展了光子晶体缺陷态问题的PG有限元界面问题计算方法,有效地处理了各种不同组元体系、几何结构、界面形状、材料属性以及模态的光子晶体缺陷态问题。数值结果表明,二组元结构单点缺陷对带隙的影响较小,只是使局部范围内的波继续传播而产生一条缺陷带,多点缺陷使一些特定范围内的波可以传播而产生多条缺陷带,线缺陷产生的影响较大,可以使整个禁带消失。结合线缺陷与点缺陷,波导结构中的侧点缺陷可以有效地应用于光子晶体阻带内诱导窄通带或在波导的通带内诱导非常窄的阻带。三组元结构引入了不均匀介质、复杂介质形状以及不同几何结构的缺陷态。通过计算与分析发现Ω₃区域的介质形状对结果影响比较有限,表面层越不光滑禁带越窄,n型缺陷态在TM模中的高频区域更容易产生禁带。对于TE模来说,n型与v型的缺陷态更容易产生禁带。     

Structure and lithium ion diffusion in lithium silicate glasses and at their interfaces with lithium lanthanum titanate crystals

Solid state lithium ion electrolytes are important to the development of next generation safer and high power density lithium ion batteries. Lithium containing glasses such as lithium silicate glasses have been widely studied due to their high ionic conductivity. Recently, lithium silicate glasses were introduced in polycrystalline lithium lanthanum titanate (LLT) ceramics as intergranular thin films between the crystalline grains to achieve higher lithium ion conductivities in these solid state electrolytes. In this work, we present investigations of the structure and diffusion behavior of lithium silicate glasses and their interfaces with LLT crystals using molecular dynamics simulations. The short and medium range structures of the lithium silicate glasses were characterized and the ceramic/glass interface models were obtained using MD simulations. Lithium ion diffusion behaviors in the glass and across the glass/ceramic interfaces, as well as the effect of atomic structure on diffusion behaviors, were investigated. It was found that there existed a minor segregation of lithium ions at the glass/crystal interface. The interface lithium ion diffusion energy barrier was found to be dominated by the glass phase.     

Effects of aromatic core and flexible terminal chain structures on the properties of luminous liquid-crystalline gold(i) complexes for functional materials

ABSTRACT

Luminescent liquid-crystalline (LC) Au complexes with various aromatic cores and flexible terminal chains were synthesized. The aromatic core aspect ratio crucially affected the LC temperature range and melting point of the complexes. Moreover, branched flexible chains reduced the melting point, thus expanding the LC temperature range. In the crystalline and LC phases of the complexes, fluorescence was quenched by the aggregation-caused quenching effect, but phosphorescence was enhanced by the crystallization-induced phosphorescence effect. However, no phosphorescence was observed in the isotropic phase. Thus, not only aggregation but also regularity of molecular aggregates is necessary for the observed crystallization-induced phosphorescence effect.     

Non-display bio-optic applications of liquid crystals

Liquid crystal (LC) devices have been largely developed for LC displays and in the last decade for optical telecommunications; however, their application in the field of optical imaging is just starting to emerge. They can be miniaturised and thus have a great potential to be used with miniature optical imaging systems for biomedical applications. LC devices specifically designed for integration into biomedical optical imaging systems are reviewed. Using a combination of a few LC retarders, spectropolarimetric imaging of tissue can be obtained. LC tunable filters with high dynamic range and large throughput are designed for hyperspectral imaging and for spectral domain optical coherence tomography. The designs are based on several concepts, both using the classical stack of retarders and using more modern designs based on single layer in a Fabry–Perot cavity, in a resonant waveguide structure or in a photonic crystal.     

Electro-Acoustic Effect in Organic Structure Based on Star-Shaped Carbazole Derivatives

We have found that the structures based on ITO/tri(9-hexylcarbazol-3-yl)amine/Ca/Al fabricated by means of vacuum deposition generate acoustic oscillations when pulse voltage is applied. Impedance spectroscopy study indicates the presence of significant inductive response, which is the result of significant energy barriers at the semiconductor-metal interface. We assume that a very heterogeneous spatial distribution of the electric field at the organic/metal interface and the noncoplanarity of the molecules cause the electrostriction effect in the structures.     

All‐aromatic liquid crystal thermosets: New high‐performance materials for structural applications

Over the past two decades, there has been an increasing interest in all‐aromatic crosslinked liquid crystal (LC) systems for structural, electronics and coatings applications. In this paper we will give a brief overview of our work on oligomeric liquid crystals end‐capped with phenylethynyl reactive end‐groups. All reactive oligomers were synthesized using standard melt‐condensation techniques and the final products form homogeneous nematic melts over a wide temperature range (220–400?°C). The reactive LC oligomers could be cured at elevated temperatures (310–400?°C) to form true rigid‐rod nematic networks. As will be demonstrated, this oligomer approach allows us to design all‐aromatic nematic networks with a variety of favorable physical, mechanical and processing characteristics. Depending on the backbone chemistry, and end‐group concentration, we can access liquid crystal thermosets with Tg’s between 110–280?°C and storage moduli (E') of 2‐5 GPa. The oligomeric nature of our reactive LCs results in excellent melt processing characteristics (|η*| ? 1?Pa.s at 100?rad.s^?1) and allows for the processing of complex structures such as fiber‐reinforced composites. Based on our current results we are convinced that reactive all‐aromatic liquid crystals can be interesting alternatives over existing high‐performance polymers such as polyarylether ketones (PEEK and PEKK) polyphenylenesulfide (PPS) and polyetherimides (PEIs).     

Experimental Study of Interface Inversion of Tb3ScxAl5‐xO12 Single Crystals Grown by the Czochralski Method

Thermal conditions and rotation rate were examined experimentally for obtaining a flat interface growth of high melting‐point oxide (Tb₃Sc_xAl_5‐xO₁₂ ‐ TSAG) by the Czochralski method. The critical crystal rotation rate can be significantly reduced, of about twice at low and very low temperature gradients comparing to medium temperature gradients in the melt and surroundings of the crystal. The interface shape of TSAG crystals is not very sensitive on crystal rotation rate at small rotations and becomes very sensitive at higher rotations, when the interface transition takes place. The range of crystal rotation rates during the interface transition from convex to concave decreases with a decrease of temperature gradients. At low temperature gradients interface inversion crystals takes place in very narrow range of rotation rates, which does not allow one to growth such crystals with the flat interface. Even changing crystal rotation rate during the growth process in a suitable manner did not prevent the interface inversion from convex to concave and thus did not allow to obtain and maintain the flat interface.     

聚苯乙烯微球在乙醇/水混合分散介质悬浮液气-液界面自组装:快速组装单层胶粒晶体

本文提出了一种组装单层聚苯乙烯(PS)胶粒晶体的方法。一定温度下,一定质量比乙醇和水(乙水比K)作为分散介质的悬浮液气-液界面处,可快速自组装出单层PS胶粒晶体。研究表明,悬浮液中的PS微球在对流的带动下到达气-液界面,在两个PS微球之间由弯液面产生的毛细管力推动下组装在一起,并形成组装核心。后续到达气-液界面的PS微球与组装核心持续组装,最终在悬浮液的气-液界面形成单层PS胶粒晶体。通过改变乙水比K,调整混合分散介质与到达气-液界面的PS微球之间的润湿性,进而改变组装推动力,最终实现单层PS晶体的组装。因此分散介质中的乙水比K是单层PS胶粒晶体形成的关键因素。PS微球的质量百分比浓度虽也可影响PS胶粒晶体薄膜的层数,但乙水比K15∶1时,单纯降低浓度无法得到单层PS胶粒晶体。组装温度仅对晶体的质量产生影响。