Bilayer studies in mixedn-decanol/n-tetradecanol complexes ofn-decylammonium beidellite

Complexes have been prepared by treatment ofn-decylammonium beidellite with mixtures ofn-decanol andn-tetradecanol with different concentrations. Measurements of the basal spacings of the obtained complexes have been performed in a wide range of temperatures. Three different bilayer phases have been established between (20 and 70°C: the _i(C₁₀) phases (=bilayers ofn-decyl chains); the _i(C₁₀/C₁₄) phases (=mixed bilayers ofn-decyl andn-tetradecyl chains in molar ratio approximately 1:1) and the _i(C₁₄) phases (=bilayer ofn-tetradecy 1 chains with then-decylammonium ions included). In all bilayer phases the chains stand perpendicular to the silicate interfaces. In definite concentration ranges two of the phases coexist, i.e., miscibility gaps occur, which disappear at temperatures higher than the temperature of the _i/ transition. The miscibility gaps are reversible with temperature. The composition of the intercalated bilayers has been studied by HPLC of the excess alkanol mixture separated from the beidellite complexes after the equilibrium has been reached. There is preferential adsorption of one of two alkanols from the mixture, which is in agreement with the observed miscibility gaps. The space filling problem as well as the structure of the three bilayer phases observed have been discussed.     

Inequality of temperature increments ofn-alkane homologs as one of the reasons for the nonlinear variation of sorption parameters of substances in temperature-programmed gas chromatography

GC behavior of C₆-C₁₇ n-alkanes has been investigated at different temperatures of isothermal analysis and under temperature programming conditions using two capillary columns coated with OV-101 and OV-351 stationary phases. Temperature increments have been calculated for the homologs and their inequality has been demonstrated for each member of then-alkane series. It was shown that the nonlinear individual temperature variation of the energy of dispersive interaction ofn-alkane homologs with the stationary phase, which was observed under isothermal conditions, may be one of the main reasons for the nonlinear change in sorption parameters ofn-alkanes in temperature-programmed gas chromatography.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 4, pp. 642–645, April, 1994.The present work was carried out with the financial support of the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (Grant 93-03-4969).     

Odd-even effects in the alignment of ferroelectric liquid crystals

Nine different poly-n-alkylterphthalamides have been synthesized, and their properties as alignment layers for chiral smectic C liquid crystals have been determined. Poly-n-hexylterphthalamide is found to be particularly well suited for one of the room temperature mixtures used in this study. The contrast between relaxed states shows an odd-even effect that can probably be explained by the crystal form of the different polymers. The tilt angle found between the relaxed states depends only on the polymer used, not on the inherent tilt of the chiral smectic C phases.     

Influence of glycerol on the formation of lyotropic mesophases —microscopic texture observations for determining preliminary phase diagrams of binary K-soap/glycerol systems

Analogously to aqueous K-soap/water systems already examined, the glycerol-containing systems KC _n /G (KC _n ;n=12, 14, 16, 18, 22; G=glycerol) are also able to build up hexagonal, lamellar, optically isotropic, gel-like and crystalline phases. These preliminary phases have been identified by texture observations of contact samples and singular concentrations with a polarizing microscope. The appertaining phase regions have been plotted in the binary phase diagrams.Correspondences and differences between these systems have been elucidared by drawing a comparison. Mosaic texture and oily streaks are typical of the lamellar phase. Spherulites are mainly found in the heterogeneous two-phase region lamellar/isotropic. The textures of the hexagonal phase are of fan-like morphology. The appearance of the gel phase texture resembles globular or curd-like structures.The influences exerted by the increasing chain lengths of the K-soaps (KC _n ,n=12–22) on the phase regions in the binary systems (KC _n /G) can be described as follows. The concentrations required for forming the hexagonal and the lamellar phase respectively are shifted toward lower K-soap concentrations. The concentration range in which the hexagonal phase is stable is diminished. The temperature range in which the hexagonal phase is stable becomes larger. The upper temperature limit of the lamellar phase region is lowered.Binary aqueous and glycerol-containing K-soap systems have the following common features: The hexagonal phase is built up at low soap concentrations. The lamellar phase is formed at high soap concentrations. The lamellar phase is formed at high soap concentrations. An optically isotropic region is inserved between the lamellar and the hexagonal phase in aqueous and glycerol-containing systems of the types KC₁₄, KC₁₆ and KC₁₈. The temperature of the transition hexagonalisotropic phase (HS) runs through a maximum value. On increasing the chain length the formation of the hexagonal phase is shifted in the direction of lower soap concentrations.Aqueous and glycerol-containing K-soap mixtures differ in the following essential points: The lyotropic mesophases (H, L, I) of aqueous systems are formed at considerably lower soap concentrations than the corresponding phases of glycerol-containing systems. The lamellar phases of aqueous systems reach the regions of very low soap concentrations. The lyotropic mesophases of aqueous systems are built up at temperatures lower than the corresponding ones of glycerol-containing mixtures. In aqueous systems the concentration range of the lamellar phase increases with increasing chain length, in contrast to glycerol-containing systems where it is diminished.     

Lyotropic liquid crystalline phases formed by phyosterol ethoxylates in room-temperature ionic liquids

The phase behaviors of four phytosterol ethoxylates surfactants (BPS-n, n = 5, 10, 20, and 30) with different oxyethylene units in room temperature ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([Bmim]BF₄), have been studied. The polarized optical microscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering techniques are used to characterize the phase structures of these binary systems at 25 °C. The structure and ordering of the liquid crystalline (LC) phases in such BPS-n/[Bmim]BF₄ systems are found to be influenced by BPS-n concentration and the temperature. Due to the bulky and rigid cholesterol group, the phytosterol ethoxylates surfactants exhibit different properties and interaction mechanism from the conventional C_nEO_m type nonionic surfactant systems. The rheological measurements indicate a highly viscoelastic nature of these lyotropic LC phases and disclose a lamellar phase characteristic with a rather strong rigidity at high surfactant concentrations. The control experiment with Brij 97(polyoxyethylene (10) oleyl ether)/[Bmim]BF₄ system and the FTIR measurements help to recognize that the solvophobic interaction combining with the hydrogen bonding are the main driving forces for the LC phases formation.     

Twist-Bend Nematic Glasses: The Synthesis and Characterisation of Pyrene-based Nonsymmetric Dimers

A selection of pyrene-based liquid crystal dimers have been prepared, containing either methylene-ether or diether linked spacers of varying length and parity. All the diether linked materials, CBOnO.Py (n=5, 6, 11, 12), exhibit conventional nematic and smectic A phases, with the exception of CBO11O.Py which is exclusively nematic. The methylene-ether linked dimer, CBnO.Py, with an even-membered spacer (n=5) was solely nematogenic, but odd-members (n=6, 8, 10) exhibited both nematic and twist-bend nematic phases. Replacement of the cyanobiphenyl fragment by cyanoterphenyl giving CT6O.Py, gave elevated melting and nematic-isotropic transition temperatures, and SmA and SmC_A phases were observed on cooling the nematic phase. Intermolecular face-to-face associations of the pyrene moieties drive glass formation, and all these materials have a glass transition temperature at or above room temperature. The stability of the glassy twist-bend nematic phase allowed for its study using AFM, and the helical pitch length, P_TB, was measured as 6.3 and 6.7 nm for CB6O.Py and CB8O.Py, respectively. These values are comparable to the shortest pitch of a twist-bend nematic phase measured to date.     

Dielectric studies on binary mixtures of systems exhibiting intermediate nematic phase

Two binary phase diagrams of the liquid crystals (4-n-pentylphenyl-4-n-hexyloxybenzoate (PPHB) with 4-nitrophenyl-4-n-pentylbenzoate (NPPB) and 4-n-hexyloxyphenyl-4-n-decyloxybenzoate (HPDB) with NPPB) have been studied. PPHB shows only a nematic phase where as for HPDB trimorphism, with the SmC, SmA and nematic phases, was observed. Substance NPPB which has a strong polar nitro group is non-mesogenic one. Both the phase diagrams show an induction and stabilization of SmA phase and appearance of the nematic state in the high concentration range of polar component. The dielectric measurements confirm the phase transition temperatures and show changes in the short range interaction at the phase transitions.     

Mesogenic properties and the effect of 1,2,4-trisubstitution on the central benzene nucleus of a three-ring mesogen

Four mesogenic homologous series have been synthesized by fixing a rigid 4-substituted phenylazo group to a resorcinol moiety. In series I and II, one phenolic -OH group is esterified by 4-n-alkoxybenzoyl groups; in series III and IV both the phenolic -OH groups are esterified by 4-n-alkoxybenzoyl groups. All the homologues of series III and IV exhibit low melting smectic C phases. Monoesters of series I and II, having free lateral hydroxy group with strong hydrogen bonding, exhibit high temperature nematic phases. The effect of different substituents on mesomorphic properties is discussed. One homologue of series III was doped with a chiral dopant and its spontaneous polarization evaluated.     

The effect of terminal alkoxy chain on mesophase behaviour,optical property and structure of chiral liquid crystal compounds derived from (−)-menthol

Herein, we present the results of our extensive investigations on the synthesis and phase behaviour of nine novel (?)-menthol-based chiral liquid crystal compounds. They possess three phenyl rings and substituted with (?)-menthyl and varying length of n-alkoxy chains at one end. With the aim of exploring the fundamental relationships between molecular structural features and thermal properties, nine terminal n-alkoxy groups from ethoxy to n-octadecaneloxy group in even numbers have been used. A detailed characterisation of their properties was carried out. The characterisation results clearly illustrate that all the series compounds show the thermodynamically stable phases; the shorter chain homologues display only the BPI and N* phases, and the middle ones exhibit BPI, N* and S_A* phases while the longer chain members show the BPI, N* and S_C* phases. Besides, the BPI appeared in a narrow temperature range because of their thermodynamic disruption. Temperature range of the N* phase narrows when the length of the n-alkoxy tail increases. The reflection peak is shifted towards short wavelength region with increasing temperature due to the winding of the chiral nematic helix in the N* phase. Furthermore, their inherent reflection peak intensities of reflections were gradually weakened.     

Investigations into the formation and characterization of microemulsions. I. Phase diagrams of the ternary system water—sodium alkyl benzene sulfonate—hexanol and the quaternary system water—xylene—sodium alkyl benzene sulfonate—hexanol

The phase diagrams of the ternary system water—sodium alkylbenzene sulfonate (NaDBS)-hexanol and the quaternary system water—xylene—NADBS—hexanol have been established at three different temperatures, namely 25, 37, and 50°C. The different phases formed have been qualitatively examined using optical (phase contrast and polarizing) microscopy. The textures of the various liquid crystalline phases in the ternary system have been identified, by comparison with previous studies in the literature. Some of the liquid crystalline phases have been quantitatively assessed using low angle X-ray diffraction. The latter measurements were also used to determine the unit cell dimensions in the various phases studied. With the quaternary system, particular attention was paid to the transparent region which consisted of an L₂ (inverse micellar) phase extending into another transparent region which has a blue “tinge” in some cases, namely the microemulsion (M) region. The amount of water solubilized in the L₂ (reverse micelle) or M + L₂ phase was calculated from the phase diagrams. With the ternary system the results showed a maximum in moles of water solubilized per mole total surfactant (NaDBS + hexanol) at a concentration of 0.3 mole surfactant, at an optimum molar ratio of n-hexanol to NaDBS of 4.5:1. This maximum was about twice with the quaternary system, when compared with that of the ternary system, indicating the importance of the role of xylene in solubilization of water by the surfactants. The present investigation has also shown that the extent of the microemulsion region is significantly reduced by increases of temperature when the NaDBS is lower than 15 wt%.     

Temperature changes of sorption parameters of di-n-alkylketones and methylcyclohexanones in capillary gas chromatography

The gas chromatographic behavior of di-n-alkylketones and isomeric methylcyclohexanones at variable temperatures in the isothermal runs has been studied using three capillary columns coated with SE-30, OV-225, and PEG-40M/KF stationary phases. The retention indices and their temperature increments were determined, and the partial molar free energies of the compounds under study were calculated. A linear dependence of the values of the partial molar free energy of sorption on the homologue number in di-n-alkylketones is not observed for the first member on the nonpolar SE-30 phase and for the third member on the polar OV-225 and PEG-40M/KF phases. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 328–332, February, 1997.     

Structure property and mesomorphic behaviour of S-shaped liquid crystal oligomers possessing two azobenzene moieties

A new series of symmetrical S-shaped oligomers 4,4?-bis(ω-2-(ω-[(bromophenyl)diazenyl]-alkoxy)phenoxy)hexylbiphenyl consisting of two different spacers (inner -(CH₂)₆- and outer -(CH₂)_n-) have been synthesised. Their physical, thermal and texture observation over various transition temperatures are reported. The outer spacers for these compounds vary from n = 4 to n = 9. The oligomers with even number of members exhibit monotropic phase in which the compound with n = 4 shows nematic (N) phase whilst those with members n = 6 and 8 exhibit N and smectic A (SmA) phases. However, the homologs with odd number of members display enantiotropic phase in which the compound with n = 5 exhibits N and smectic phases whereas the members with n = 7 and 9 are predominantly smectogenic. The temperature range of N phase for even-numbered member decreased with elongation of the outer spacer. The smectic phase stability among the members in the present series increases when the outer spacer n is increased from 5 to 8.     

Thermal properties of oxide glasses

Glasses with the composition Li₂O·2SiO₂·nTiO₂ and Li₂O·2SiO₂·nZrO₂, where n=0, 0.03, 0.062, 0.1, were prepared and the onset and peak temperatures have been determined by DTA. From these characteristic temperatures, the kinetic parameters describing the nucleation and crystal growth have been obtained by isoconversional methods. The kinetic parameters have been used for the calculation of nucleation and crystal growth times for individual glasses so determining the order of glass stability at reheating. The stability of glasses increases with the content of TiO₂ or ZrO₂ where the increase is higher for ZrO₂. Within the concentration range under study, the increase of both times with the metal oxide concentration is quadratic. It has been discussed that the crystallization kinetics does not obey the Arrhenius law and, therefore, when using the evaluation methods based on this law, the results should not be extrapolated outside the temperature range of the measurements.     

Experimentally determined temperature–concentration phase diagrams of monodisperse alkanes with chains containing between 100 and 200 carbons

The temperature–concentration phase (T–c) diagrams of the uniform n-alkanes C₁₀₂H₂₀₆, C₁₂₂H₂₄₆, C₁₆₂H₃₂₆, and C₁₉₈H₃₉₈ in toluene have been determined for solution concentrations in the range 0.1 to 6% (w/w). The shorter alkanes display a “classical” behavior with the expected, strong dependence of dissolution temperature on solution concentration. The longest alkane displays a very different, “polymeric” type behavior with a concentration independent dissolution temperature (for both extended and folded chain crystals). It is argued that no current theory of polymer dissolution is able to explain this behavior. It is suggested that a locally higher concentration occurs when molecules are partially attached to a crystal either during crystallization or dissolution, and that this increased local concentration accounts for the independence of dissolution temperature on the global concentration. There are some small variations in the dissolution temperature of crystals of the same thickness grown at the same concentration, but at different temperatures. These are ascribed to differences in the stacking of the separate layers. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 3188–3200, 1999     

Retention study on silica gel in high-temperature liquid chromatography (HTLC)

Summary Retention volumes (V _N) of different kinds of test compound have been measured on silica gel as a function of column temperature (T) in the range 20 to 210°C.n-Heptane and mixtures ofn-heptane and polar modifiers were used as mobile phases. With nC7 and nC7-1,4-dioxane mixtures, there was a good linear relationship between InV _N and 1/T for column temperatures above 100 °C. When more polar modifiers such as butanol, ethanol and acetic acid were used, ‘N’-shaped curves were obtained for the plots of InV _N against 1/T. Possible explanations of this retention behavior have been proposed on the basis of related studies and common physical chemistry relationships. Column equilibration time after alteration of water content or column temperature is greatly reduced at elevated temperatures. This will benefit the application of LSC on silica gel.     

Thermodynamics of Adsorption ofn-Alkanes on Maleated Wood Fibers by Inverse Gas Chromatography

The adsorption ofn-heptane,n-octane,n-nonane, andn-decane on untreated wood fiber and wood fiber treated with maleated polypropylene was studied by inverse gas chromatography (IGC) at infinite dilution or zero surface coverage. The specific retention volume increased with increasing probe chain length, decreased with increasing column temperature, and increased with increasing maleated polypropylene concentration. The enthalpy of adsorption increased with increasing chain length of the probe vapors. The enthalpy of adsorption remained constant after the treatment of wood fiber. The London dispersive component of the surface free energy decreased with the column temperature and showed no dependency with either the type of wood fiber or the maleated polypropylene concentration.     

Understanding the Complex Surface Interplay for Extraction: A Molecular Dynamics Study

By means of classical molecular dynamics simulation the interfacial properties of methanol and n-dodecane, which are two potential candidate solvents for use in non-aqueous liquid–liquid extraction, were assessed. The question of how the interface changes depending on the concentration of extractant (tri-n-butyl phosphate) and salt (LiCl) is addressed. Two different models to represent systems were used to evaluate how LiCl and tri-n-butyl phosphate affect mutual miscibility, and how the last-named behaves depending on the chemical environment. Tri-n-butyl phosphate increases the mutual solubility of the solvents, whereas LiCl counteracts it. The extractant was found to be mostly adsorbed on the interface between the solvents, and therefore the structural features of the adsorption were investigated. Adsorption of tri-n-butyl phosphate changes depending on its concentration and the presence of LiCl. It exhibits a preferential orientation in which the butyl chains point at the n-dodecane phase and the phosphate group points at the methanol phase. For high concentrations of tri-n-butyl phosphate, its molecular orientation is preserved by diffusion of the excess molecules into both the methanol and n-dodecane phases. However, LiCl hinders the diffusion into the methanol phase, and thus increases the concentration of tri-n-butyl phosphate at the interface and forces a rearrangement with subsequent loss of orientation.     

YIHn: A New Family of Metal‐rich Hydride Halides

The graphite‐like yttrium hydride halides, YIH_n (0.8 ? n ? 1.0), have been prepared in quantitative yields by heating either YI₃, YH₂ (1:2) or stoichiometric YI₃, YH₂, Y mixtures in sealed Ta ampoules at 900°C. A lower limit of the homogeneity range, n ≈ 2/3, has been determined from dehydrogenation experiments. All YIH_n phases adopt the ZrBr‐type heavy‐atom structure. The hydrogen variation is accompanied by a change in the c lattice constant from 31.162(3) to 31.033(1) Å for n = 0.61(3) to 1.02(3). The YIH_n phases reversibly react with hydrogen at 400‐600°C to form the light green transparent compound YIH₂. However, increasing the reaction temperature above 700°C causes decomposition to an unidentified phase being in equilibrium with YH₂ and YI₃. The arrangement of the heavy atoms in YIH₂ (P m1; a = 3.8579(3) Å, c = 10.997(1) Å) corresponds to a four‐layer I‐Y‐Y‐I slab with the stacking sequence (AbaB) as was found by x‐ray powder diffraction data refinement with the Rietveld method. A miscibility gap exists between YIH and YIH₂. Samples YIH_n (n ? 1.0) show metallic conductivity at room temperature, which changes into semiconducting behavior with decreasing temperature as n approaches its lower value ≈ 2/3.     

Liquid-crystalline coordination polymers based on tetra(alkoxybenzoato)dirhodium(II) complexes axially linked by tetrazine,phenazine and 4,4′-bipyridine

The reaction of dirhodium tetrakis(3,4,5-trialkoxy)benzoates Rh₂(B3OCn)₄ (n = 10, 14, and 18) with three different dinitrogenated axial ligands (L_ax), namely tetrazine (tz), phenazine (phz), and 4,4′-bipyridine (bpy), gave rise to three homologous series of mesogenic coordination polymers, [Rh₂(B3OCn)₄]L_ax. All of them exhibited thermotropic columnar mesophases that were of the hexagonal type for tz and phz and rectangular for bpy. The lighter n = 10 homologs of the three series are liquid crystals (LC) at room temperature. Their mesomorphic properties have been compared with those of the previously studied L_ax = pyrazine series. Models for the supramolecular organization of the three polymeric series in their Col LC phases are proposed on the basis of their structural parameters, as measured by XRD and SAXS. The differences are interpreted in terms of different coordination features of the axial ligands.     

苯氧铜/正丁基锂体系引发MMA负离子聚合及其活性特征的研究

采用苯氧铜/正丁基锂(PhOCu/n-BuLi)体系引发MMA聚合, 通过GPC, ¹H NMR对聚合物进行了表征. 实验结果表明, 该体系聚合反应速度较快, 温度、引发体系组成是影响聚合物分子量及其分布、单体转化率、引发剂引发效率、聚合物的立构规整性的主要因素; －40 ℃时分子量分布比较窄, 但引发效率也比较低(大约15%). 低引发效率、宽分子量分布与引发剂的聚集状态有关. 分子量与单体浓度、引发剂浓度的关系说明, 该体系具有一定程度的活性聚合特点.