Dielectric relaxation spectroscopy and electro-optical studies of phase behaviour of a chiral smectic liquid crystal

Dielectric relaxation processes in various phases of a chiral smectic liquid crystal compound have been investigated over a wide range of frequencies from 10 to 300 kHz. Dielectric spectroscopy reveals the existence of two relaxation frequencies corresponding to the ferroelectric and ferrielectric Goldstone modes in the range of temperature where two different phases coexist. This phenomenon of coexistence is examined with respect to the cell thickness and reversal temperature.     

Dielectric relaxation study of a H shaped liquid crystal dimer

The present article reports dielectric relaxation study of an unusual shaped liquid crystal dimer (H shape) in the temperature range 40–85°C. The study of this liquid crystal dimer is important due to the presence of azo central linkage, which is photosensitive. The dielectric relaxation study indicates coupling between the electric field and the liquid crystal molecule of H shaped dimer. Various dielectric properties for this liquid crystal dimer are quite different from the conventional liquid crystals. The dielectric relaxation observed in the smectic phase is due to the reorientation of molecule along the director in the presence of an applied electric field. The temperature dependence of the dielectric parameters, such as relaxation frequency, relaxation strength and distribution parameter have been evaluated for this liquid crystal dimer for both planar as well as homeotropically aligned cell and then compared. The Cole–Cole equation has been used to evaluate the aforementioned parameters.     

Dielectric relaxation in two liquid crystalline polyacrylates under high hydrostatic pressure

For two polyacrylates with p-cyano-phenyl benzoate side groups and different spacer lengths the dielectric relaxation was measured in the nematic and isotropic phase at pressures up to 5000 bar. The relaxation of the cyano groups was observed as a separate relaxation process; it seems to be closely correlated with the glass relaxation. The pressure dependence of the glass temperature and of the clearing temperature could be derived from the experiments.     

Synthesis and liquid crystalline investigation of chiral 6-alkoxy-2-naphathoic acid derivatives

A two new series of materials with a chiral fragment derived from ((S)-(─)-2-methyl-1-butanol and 6-alkoxy-2-naphathoic acid as the molecular core was synthesised and investigated. All the homologues exhibited enantiotropic mesomorphism. Chiral smectic C (SmC*), smectic A (SmA) and chiral nematic (N*) phases were observed in different homologues. All the compounds were characterised by spectroscopic and elemental analysis. Thermal investigations and mesophase characterisations for all the compounds were carried out by the combination of DSC and POM analysis. The effects of the central linkage and various terminal normal alkyl chains with its structurally related compounds have been discussed.     

Synthesis of a series of novel chiral smectic C (Sc*) phase shish‐kebab type liquid crystalline polymers

A series of chiral smectic C phase shish‐kebab type liquid crystal polymers was synthesized by low‐temperature solution condensation polymerization from 2,5‐bis[4‐((S)‐alkoxyl)benzoyloxy]hydroquinone and aliphatic diacylchloride. The monomers and their precursors were identified by using elemental analysis, infrared spectrum, nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry. The polymers were characterized by gel permeation chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, temperature‐variable X‐ray diffraction, polarimeter and polarizing microscope (POM) with a heating stage. All the polymers entered into liquid crystal phase when heated to above their melting temperature. The Schlieren texture and sanded texture were observed on POM. All the chiral compounds and polymers showed high optical activity. Temperature‐variable, X‐ray diffraction study together with the POM and polarimetric analysis revealed that the polymers synthesized are chiral smectic C phase. Thus, the present report provides examples of shish‐kebab type polymers that form a chiral smectic C phase. The change of the melting temperature and isotropization temperature with the variation in molecular structure was also discussed. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dielectric properties of a highly polar liquid crystalline material showing various types of layered structures

Liquid crystal compound N-(4-n-pentyloxybenzalidene) 4′-n-pentylaniline is very interesting because of its rich phase variant, i.e. nematic, smectic A, smectic C, smectic F and smectic G phases. In the present work, temperature- and frequency-dependent dielectric studies on this compound in the homeotropic and planar orientation of molecules have been carried out in the frequency range of 1 Hz–10 MHz. The compound shows negative dielectric anisotropy (i.e. Δε < 0). Dielectric studies have shown three relaxation modes of different origin in various phases of the material. Relaxation frequencies of the observed modes follow Arrhenius behaviour. The relaxation due to interfacial polarisation, i.e. Maxwell–Wagner–Sillars effect has been observed in the nematic and isotropic phases. A relaxation mode due to the fluctuation of molecular tilt resembling the soft mode has been detected in the smectic A phase with pre- and post-transitional effects. Another mode due to the fluctuation of molecules about their short axes has been detected in the nematic and smectic A, C, F and G phases. Activation energies and ionic conductivity of these phases have also been determined.     

Molecular and collective relaxations of ferroelectric side chain liquid crystalline polysiloxanes

The influences of mesogenic group chemical structures on dielectric relaxation behavior were investigated for ferroelectric side chain liquid crystalline polymers (FLCPs). The relaxation time and activation energies of the Goldstone mode, α‐, and β‐relaxations decrease with increasing spacer length because of the plasticizer effect of the spacer. Moreover, the relaxation intensity increases with increasing spacer length for FLCPs. An FLCP with a longer spacer length exhibits a higher mesogenic group mobility, and subsequently leads to easier reorientation toward the alternating electrical field. An increase in mesogenic core rigidity results in an increase in the relaxation time and activation energies, and a decrease in the relaxation intensities for the Goldstone mode, α‐, and β‐relaxations. Moreover, the β‐relaxation is suppressed and cannot be observed in the glassy state for FLCPs containing naphthyl biphenylcarboxylate as the mesogenic group. Shorter relaxation time, smaller activation energies, and higher intensity of the α‐, and β‐relaxations were obtained for FLCPs containing chiral moiety with a flexible heptyl alkyl chain. However, the relaxation intensity of the Goldstone mode for FLCPs containing this chiral moiety was smaller than that for FLCPs containing the chiral moiety with a butyl alkyl chain. For FLCPs containing a chiral moiety with two asymmetrical centers, their Goldstone mode relaxation showed larger amplitude. The α‐ and β‐relaxations are suppressed for these FLCPs because of the dense packing and memory effect of the smectic phase. The relationship between the chemical structure of the mesogenic group and dielectric relaxations is discussed in great detail. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 2035–2049, 2006     

The dielectric relaxation processes in an antiferroelectric liquid crystal under cylindrical confinement

In the cylindrical pore geometry of inorganic Anopore membranes the collective relaxation processes observed in a bulk antiferroelectric liquid crystal change considerably under confinement. The frequency degeneration of the soft and Goldstone modes present at the smectic A* (SmA*)-chiral smectic C (SmC*) phase transition in the bulk phase is removed under geometrical restrictions. The relaxation rate of the soft mode is strongly modified due to the deformation of the smectic layers in the curved geometry of the pores and is superimposed by the molecular relaxation process in the SmA* and SmC* phases. The soft mode in confinement splits into two relaxation processes, which are present through all other mesophases (SmC* and SmC_a*). One of them is nearly temperature independent and slightly decreases in frequency in the SmC_a* phase. This Goldstone-like process can be assigned to the highly deformed helical structure fluctuations. The second one exhibits the characteristic features for the molecular and soft mode relaxation processes depending on the temperature range. The biquadratic and the piezoelectric coupling between the tilt angle and spontaneous polarization are revealed in their temperature dependence.     

Dielectric relaxation spectroscopy and alignment behavior of a polymer‐dispersed liquid crystal and its component materials

The dielectric properties of a polymer‐dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC), a liquid‐crystal (LC) mixture (BL036), and three polymer matrices of PN314 containing different amounts of BLO36 were determined over a range of frequencies and temperatures and, for the LC and PDLC, over a range of voltages leading to homeotropic alignment of the LC. The overall dielectric relaxation process was a weighted sum of contributions from (1) the primary (δ) process in the LC arising from the motions of the dipoles about the short molecular axis and (2) dipole motions in the polymer matrix. The dielectric spectra were determined as a function of frequency, temperature, and, when appropriate, applied voltage. An equivalent electrical circuit was used as a working model to describe the dielectric behavior of the PDLC in the absence and presence of applied voltages. Agreement between the dielectric data and this model was achieved if a portion of the LC phase at the interface was assumed to be immobile. The director order parameter for the LC component in the PDLC was determined from dielectric measurements as the material was aligned homeotropically in an applied electric field. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 39: 1173–1194, 2001     

Thermal recordable novel cholesteric liquid crystalline polyacrylates containing various chiral moieties

To investigate the effect of spacer length and linkages between the rigid mesogenic core and the terminal group on the molecular interaction and physical properties of polymers, two series of novel side chain liquid crystalline polyacrylates were synthesized. These were composed of liquid crystalline monomers with six or eleven methylene segments as spacers, and chiral monomers end capped with menthyl or cholesteryl groups. Liquid crystalline phases of the polymers were investigated using differential scanning calorimetry and polarized optical microscopy, and confirmed with X‐ray diffractometry. Color image recording of the synthesized polymer films was achieved using a thermal treatment, and then fixed by quenching. This investigation demonstrates that the introduction of carbonate linking groups between the rigid mesogenic core and terminal group decreases both the lateral molecular interaction and thermal stability of the liquid crystalline polymers. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 6214–6228, 2008     

Dielectric study of ferroelectric side-chain liquid crystalline polysiloxanes with broad temperature ranges of the chiral smectic C phase 1. Structure dependence of dielectric relaxation

The dielectric behavior of a series of ferroelectric side-chain liquid crystalline polysiloxanes containing 1–3 oligooxyethylene units as spacers, and 4-(S)-2-methyl-1-butyl[[[(4-hydroxy-biphenyl-4′-yl)]carbonyl]oxy] benzoate or 4-(S)-2-methyl-1-butyl[[(4-hydroxy-biphenyl-4′-yl)carbonyl]oxy]-3-fluoro benzoate side groups was studied by broadband dielectric spectroscopy. The increase of the spacer length, and incorporation of a strong dipole moment fluoro-substituent into the mesogenic group, resulted in a decrease of the relaxation activation energy and an increase in the intensity of the relaxation. Moreover, the relaxation peak of the Goldstone mode has only been observed for the FLCP with a lateral fluoro-substituent. The relationship between the thermal dynamic behavior and chemical structure is discussed in detail. Furthermore, analysis of the dielectric relaxation behavior of these FLCPs showed that the molecular relaxations could be described by the Cole-Cole equation. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Dielectric relaxation studies on a three component fully aromatic copolyester

The family of aromatic copolyesters based on the hydroxybenzoic acid (HBA) unit has been studied extensively by a number of groups. In particular the copolyesters of HBA and 2,6‐hydroxynaphthoic acid (HNA) have received much of attention due to their superior physical properties. This paper, however, describes some detailed dielectric studies on a related fully aromatic copolyester, poly(p‐oxybenzoate‐co‐p‐phenylene isophthalate), known simply as HIQ. This polymer is of particular interest because it can be solvent cast in an amorphous form, with no apparent crystallinity or frozen liquid crystalline texture and subsequently annealed, to increase the amount of crystalline and frozen liquid crystalline material. Dielectric measurements were therefore made on tape and film samples with differing morphologies produced by different processing histories. Measurements were made from 1 Hz to 10 kHz over the temperature range ?100 °C to 150 °C. A low temperature γ relaxation is observed which appears to be similar in nature to that which is observed in copolymers of HBA and HNA. An intermediate temperature β process is seen in isotropic samples which has a much higher activation energy than that found in HBA/HNA polyesters for example. The intensity of this process, which is not seen in mechanical measurements on highly oriented samples, increases on annealing and it is therefore suggested that the process is the glass transition of the liquid crystalline phase, though why the process is not seen in mechanical measurements on oriented samples is unclear. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dielectric relaxation spectroscopy and electro-optical studies of a new,partially fluorinated orthoconic antiferroelectric liquid crystal material exhibiting V-shaped switching

In this paper we report the results from detailed electro-optical and dielectric studies in various antiferroelectric and ferroelectric phases of an orthoconic antiferroelectric liquid crystal (OAFLC) material . The material possesses high tilt and high spontaneous polarisation. Such an OAFLC, because of its high tilt, provides an excellent dark state. The material exhibits V-shaped switching in the SmC* phase. Dielectric studies reveal the existence of another phase during heating in the range between 78.6 and 92°C which did not appear in the DSC curve and in polarising microscopy. This phase has been identified as the SmC_γ* phase and is extremely sensitive with respect to the cell conditions, aligning material, purity, etc. Three dielectric modes have been assigned in the above-mentioned temperature range and their origins are discussed.     

Dielectric and electro-optical properties of a nematic liquid crystalline material with gold nanoparticles

ABSTRACT

We have prepared the composites of a room temperature nematic liquid crystalline material namely 4-(trans-4′-n-hexylcyclohexyl) isothiocyanatobenzoate (6CHBT) and gold nanoparticles (GNPs). Thermodynamic, electro-optical and dielectric properties have been investigated. Effect of dispersion of GNPs on various electro-optical and display parameters of host liquid crystalline material have been studied. Physical parameters such as threshold voltage, dielectric anisotropy and splay elastic constant have altered for composite systems. Due to the dispersion of GNPs, nematic to isotropic transition temperature is significantly increased. Relaxation frequency corresponding to flip-flop motion of the 6CHBT molecules about their short axes has increased due to the presence of GNPs.     

Dipolar relaxations in the glass transition region and in the liquid crystalline phase of two side-chain liquid crystalline polysiloxanes

The molecular relaxation mechanisms in the glass transition region and in the liquid crystalline phase exhibited by two side-chain liquid crystalline polysiloxanes have been studied by Thermally Stimulated Discharge Currents. These results were compared with those previously obtained by dielectric relaxation spectroscopy. It was observed that two relaxation mechanisms were present in the liquid crystalline phase, and we suggest that these might correspond to the motions of the mesogenic moieties in the liquid crystalline phase. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.