Calorimetric study on the thermotropic cubic mesogen, 4'-n-hexadecyloxy-3'-nitrobiphenyl-4-carboxylic acid, ANBC(16)

The heat capacity of ANBC(16) has been measured between 15 and 500 K by adiabatic calorimetry. Three (one known and two newly found) crystal-crystal phase transitions and all the known liquid crystalline phases (SmC, cubic D and SmA) were detected. The temperatures, enthalpies and entropies of transition were determined for all the phase transitions observed. The entropy of transition is very small for the transition from/to the cubic D mesophase. The results are compared with the thermal properties of another cubic mesogen, BABH(8). The logical possibility is pointed out that the cubic mesophases of ANBC(16) and BABH(8) are of identical higher order structure, while discussing the fact that they are immiscible.     

Electric field-induced cubic phase in 4'-n-docosyloxy-3'-nitrobiphenyl-4-carboxylic acid

We examine the influence of an alternating-current electric field on the lamellar smectic C (SmC) phase of 4'-n-docosyloxy-3'-nitrobiphenyl-4-carboxylic acid, and the formation of a field-induced cubic (Cub) phase with optical isotropy was observed for the first time. The induction was realized down to a temperature 10 K below the zero-field SmC to Cub phase transition temperature (TSmC-Cub). The formation of the induced Cub phase gave rise to a gradual increase of the shear storage modulus, and the modulus recovered quickly in response to the removal of the field, which is of interest as future applications to the stress transferring device.     

14N NMR studies on an optically isotropic liquid crystalline D phase of 4'-n-alkoxy-3'-nitrobiphenyl-4-carboxylic acids (ANBC)

14N nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements have been carried out for three members of 4'-n-alkoxy-3'-nitrobiphenyl-4-carboxylic acids (ANBC-n, where the number of carbon atoms in the alkoxy group, n, is 14, 16, and 22) in the temperature range 400-500 K. ANBC-16 and-22 show an optically isotropic D phase. The 14N NMR spectrum of the D phase showed a single peak, which may result from isotropically averaged quadrupole interactions around the 14N nucleus. Relaxation time measurements indicate the existence of two relaxational processes, faster anisotropic and slower isotropic motions, and suggest that in both cases ANBC molecules act as a dimer. The present 14N NMR results may be interpreted in the framework of the IPJR model, indicating that the structure of the D phase is a three-dimensional network continuous over the unit lattice.     

In situ observation of the pressure-induced mesophase for 4'-n-hexadecyloxy-3'-nitrobiphenyl-4-carboxylic acid

In situ observation of the optical texture, and X-ray patterns of the pressure-induced mesophase seen for 4'-n-hexadecyloxy-3'-nitrobiphenyl-4-carboxylic acid (ANBC-16) was performed under hydrostatic pressures up to 100MPa using a polarizing optical microscope equipped with a high pressure hot stage and a wide angle X-ray diffractometer equipped with a high pressure vessel respectively. It was found that the pressure-induced mesophase (hereafter refered to as 'X') appeared at pressures above 60 MPa, and exhibits a birefringent broken-fan or a sand-like texture that remain unaltered in the SmC phase. The POM-transmitted light intensity curve measured on heating clearly showed the Cr₄ →Cr₁ →SmC →'X' →SmA →I transition sequence at 80 MPa. The optical texture and the POM-transmitted light intensity measured during a pressure cycle at 185°C showed a reversible change between the cubic and 'X' phases. The WAXD pattern of the 'X' phase showed a spot-like pattern, suggesting no layered structure for this phase, and also revealed a substantial decrease in the d-spacing of the low angle reflection at 80 and 100 MPa, compared with the d-spacings of the (0 0 1) reflection of the SmC phase and also the (2 1 1) reflection of the cubic phase. It is concluded from these data that the 'X' phase is a birefringent hexagonal columnar phase.     

Thermal behaviour of the thermotropic cubic mesogen 4'-n-hexadecyloxy-3'-nitrobiphenyl-4-carboxylic acid (ANBC-16) under hydrostatic pressure

The phase behaviour of 4'-n-hexadecyloxy-3'-nitrobiphenyl-4-carboxylic acid (ANBC-16) was investigated under hydrostatic pressures up to 200 MPa using high pressure differential thermal analysis. The phase transition sequence crystal 4 (Cr4)-crystal 3 (Cr3)-crystal 2 (Cr₂)-crystal 1 (Cr₁)-smectic C (SmC)-Cubic (Cub)-smectic A (SmA)-'structured liquid' (I₁)-isotropic liquid (I₂) was observed for a virgin sample on heating at atmospheric pressure. The stable temperature region of the optically isotropic cubic phase becomes narrower on increasing pressure and disappears at pressures above 65 MPa. The T vs. P phase diagram exhibits the existence of a triple point (65 MPa, 207.6°C) for the cubic phase, a new mesophase (X), and the SmA phase, indicating the upper limit for the cubic phase. The new mesophase, denoted here as X, appears in place of the cubic phase at pressures above 65 MPa. The phase diagram also indicates that the Cr₄-Cr₃, Cr₃-Cr₂, and Cr₂-Cr₁ transition lines merge at about 40-50 MPa and then only the Cr₄-Cr₁ transition is observed in the solid state at higher pressures. Thus the phase transition process on heating changes from the sequence Cr₄-Cr₃-Cr₂-Cr₁-SmC-Cub-SmA-I₁-I₂ at atmospheric pressure to Cr₄-Cr₁-SmC-X-SmA-I₁-I₂ in the high pressure region above 65 MPa, via Cr₄-Cr₃-Cr₂-Cr₁-SmC-(X)-Cub-SmA-I₁-I₂ in the low pressure region.     

Thermal behaviour of the thermotropic cubic mesogen 4'-n-hexadecyloxy-3'-nitrobiphenyl-4-carboxylic acid (ANBC-16) under hydrostatic pressure

The phase behaviour of 4'-n-hexadecyloxy-3'-nitrobiphenyl-4-carboxylic acid (ANBC-16) was investigated under hydrostatic pressures up to 200 MPa using high pressure differential thermal analysis. The phase transition sequence crystal 4 (Cr4)-crystal 3 (Cr3)-crystal 2 (Cr₂)-crystal 1 (Cr₁)-smectic C (SmC)-Cubic (Cub)-smectic A (SmA)-'structured liquid' (I₁)-isotropic liquid (I₂) was observed for a virgin sample on heating at atmospheric pressure. The stable temperature region of the optically isotropic cubic phase becomes narrower on increasing pressure and disappears at pressures above 65 MPa. The T vs. P phase diagram exhibits the existence of a triple point (65 MPa, 207.6°C) for the cubic phase, a new mesophase (X), and the SmA phase, indicating the upper limit for the cubic phase. The new mesophase, denoted here as X, appears in place of the cubic phase at pressures above 65 MPa. The phase diagram also indicates that the Cr₄-Cr₃, Cr₃-Cr₂, and Cr₂-Cr₁ transition lines merge at about 40-50 MPa and then only the Cr₄-Cr₁ transition is observed in the solid state at higher pressures. Thus the phase transition process on heating changes from the sequence Cr₄-Cr₃-Cr₂-Cr₁-SmC-Cub-SmA-I₁-I₂ at atmospheric pressure to Cr₄-Cr₁-SmC-X-SmA-I₁-I₂ in the high pressure region above 65 MPa, via Cr₄-Cr₃-Cr₂-Cr₁-SmC-(X)-Cub-SmA-I₁-I₂ in the low pressure region.     

Cubic phases of binary systems of 4'-n-tetradecyloxy-3'-nitrobiphenyl-4-carboxylic acid (ANBC-14)-n-alkane

The phase behaviour of the binary systems 4'-ⁿ-tetradecyloxy-3'-nitrobiphenyl-4-carboxylic acid (ANBC-14)-ⁿ-alkane (ⁿ-tetradecane or ⁿ-hexadecane) was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, polarizing optical microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The phase behaviour was a function of temperature (^T) and the effective carbon number of the system (^n*), where ^n* involves carbon atoms both from the alkoxy group of ANBC-14 and from the ⁿ-alkane added. ANBC-14 shows no cubic phase, but the addition of ⁿ-alkane induced cubic phases when ^n*≧c. 15. An interesting point is that the type of cubic phase is ^Ia3^d for 15^≦n*≦17, while an ^Im3^m type is formed for 18^≦n*≦20. Furthermore, for ^n* = 22, two types of cubic phase, one with ^Im3^m symmetry in the low temperature region and the other with ^Ia3^d in the high temperature region, were observed both on heating and cooling. The phase diagram with respect to ^T and ^n* is very similar to that of pure one-component ANBC-ⁿ, which is a function of ^T and the number of carbon atoms in the alkoxy group ⁿ.     

Light-driven phase transition in a cubic-phase-forming binary system composed of 4'-n-docosyloxy-3'-nitrobiphenyl-4-carboxylic acid and an azobenzene derivative

Binary mixtures were prepared from an azobenzene derivative and a liquid-crystal (LC) compound that exhibits smectic?C (SmC) and bicontinuous cubic (Cub(bi)) LC phases. Reversible switching between the two phases in response to UV-light irradiation was observed. This light-driven SmC-to-Cub(bi) transition is the first example showing the increased dimensionality of molecular ordering with isomerization of azobenzenes (see figure).     

High-temperature heat capacity of YbAl3(BO3)4

The isobaric heat capacity C _p (T) of YbAl₃(BO₃)₄ grown by spontaneous crystallization from solution (100 ? n) wt % (Bi₂Mo₃O₁₂ + 2.5% B₂O₃ + 0.75% Li₂MoO₄) + n wt % YbAl₃(BO₃)₄ is studied experimentally in the region of 344–1016 K. It is established that there are no extrema on the C _p (T) dependence, and the obtained data can be described using the Berman-Brown polynomial. The temperature variations of enthalpy and entropy are calculated from the C _p (T) dependence.     

Observation of delocalized states of the proton in carboxylic acid dimers in condensed matter

We report fluorescence line-narrowing experiments on low-temperature molecular crystals composed of hydrogen bonded dimers of benzoic acid. The results indicate that the acid protons are distinctly delocalized in nearly symmetric double-well potentials. The tunneling frequency is 4.8 × 10⁹ s⁻¹, a quantity not previously measured for acid protons. This is the first observation of delocalized protons of acid dimers in the condensed phase.     

Do alkoxy chains behave like a solvent in the D phase? DSC study of binary systems, ANBC (nC) (nC = 8, 16 and 18)-n-tetradecane

The phase behaviour of the binary systems ANBC(nC)-n-tetradecane, for nC = 8, 16 and 18, was examined using DSC, paying special attention to the role of the alkoxy chain of the ANBC molecule in the D phase . The dependence of the SmC-D and D-isotropic liquid transition temperatures upon the apparent average number of paraffinic carbon atoms closely resembles the nC dependence in the series of neat ANBCs, demonstrating that the alkoxy chain behaves, at least in part, like the solvent in lyotropic liquid crystals. The D phase was not detected in ANBC(8)-n-tetradecane.     

Isotropic cubic phase of 4-n-pentadecyloxy-3-nitrobiphenyl4-carboxylic acid (ANBC-15): DSC, microscopic and dynamic viscoelastic studies

The phase behaviour of 4-n-pentadecyloxy-3-nitrobiphenyl-4-carboxylic acid (ANBC-15) was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, polarizing optical microscopy, and dynamic viscoelastic measurements. The phase sequence for the virgin sample of ANBC-15 is crystalsmectic C (SmC)-cubic (D)-smectic A (SmA)-'structured liquid' (I1)-isotropic liquid (I2) on first heating. It was found that the appearance of the D phase on the second heating depends on the top temperature of the first heating. It was also shown that the D phase is formed on heating when the preceding SmC phase is 'solid-like' from the viscoelastic point of view, i.e. storage modulus (G) loss modulus (G) at 62.8 rad sec -1, while the 'liquid-like' SmC phase is transformed directly into the SmA phase without showing the D phase on heating. The isothermal frequency scans at a temperature in the D phase showed the existence of a cross-over point, G G , with G G in the lower frequency side, suggesting a structural fluctuation of the D phase. These results are ascribed to the molecular structure of ANBC-15, which has a critical alkoxy chain length in ANBC series.     

The specific heat of the ferroelectric phase transition in N(CH3)4CdBr3

The specific heat of N(CH₃)₄CdBr₃ from 50 to 300 K has been measured by adiabatic calorimetry, using both static and dynamic methods. The obtained results have permitted a careful study of the ferro-paraelectric phase transition the crystal shows at 160 K. The available spectroscopic data have been used to generate a reliable baseline which accounts for the normal lattice contribution to the specific heat. These results allow for an accurate estimation of the phase transition thermodynamic functions: ΔH=2620 J·mol^?1 and ΔS=18.04 J·(mol°C)^?1. These high values are in agreement with the predictions of the 6 well potential Frenkel model.     

Coexistence of two aggregation modes in exotic liquid-crystalline superstructure: systematic maximum entropy analysis for cubic mesogen, 1,2-bis(4'-n-alkoxybenzoyl)hydrazine [BABH(n)

Structure of a complex superstructure self-organized by thermotropic mesogen, 1,2-bis(4'- n-alkoxybenzoyl)hydrazine [BABH(n), where n is the number of carbon atoms in an alkoxy chain] was studied while paying special attention to the structure at the molecular level. Maximum entropy (MEM) analysis revealed that the molecular cores form two kinds of aggregates: Jungle gym with 3-fold junctions roughly on P minimal surface and spherical shells.     

Cubic phase of 4'-n-Hexadecyloxy-3'-cyanobiphenyl-4-carboxylic acid (ACBC-16)

The cubic phase structure of 4'-n-hexadecyloxy-3'-cyanobiphenyl-4-carboxylic acid (ACBC-16) was examined by X-ray diffraction. Unlike the octadecyloxy homologue showing an Im3m-type cubic phase, the cubic phase of ACBC-16 was of Ia3d type, both on heating and on cooling, similarly to the corresponding nitro-substituted analogue (ANBC-16). The lattice dimension a at 453 K was a = 11.0 nm, 2.5% larger than the value for ANBC-16 and rather close to the value of ANBC-17 or -18. It is expected that the appearance of the cubic phase type, as a function of the number of carbon atoms n in the alkoxy chain in the ACBC-n series, is essentially the same as in the ANBC-n series, but shifted towards shorter n by 1 or 2. In the latter ANBC-n series, the cubic phase type is Ia3d for 15≤n≤18, while an Im3m type is formed for 19≤n≤21, both on heating and on cooling.     

Reaction pathways of Sc+ (3D, 1D) and Fe+ (6D, 4F) with acetone in the gas phase: metal ion oxidation and acetone deethanization

The reactions of Sc⁺ (³D, ¹D) and Fe⁺ (⁶D, ⁴ F) with acetone have been investigated in both high‐ and low‐spin states using density functional theory. Our calculations have indicated that oxidation of Sc⁺ by acetone can take place by (1) metal‐mediated H migration, (2) direct methyl‐H shift and/or (3) C = O insertion. The most energetically favorable pathway is metal‐mediated H migration followed by intramolecular ScO⁺ rotation and dissociation. For the deethanization of acetone mediated by Fe⁺, the reaction occurs on either the quartet or sextet surfaces through five elementary steps, i.e. encounter complexation, C–C bond activation, methyl migration, C–C coupling and non‐reactive dissociation. The rate‐determining step along the quartet‐state potential‐energy surface (PES) is similar to that in the case of Ni⁺ (² F, 3d⁹), namely the methyl‐migration step. For the sextet‐state PES, however, the energy barrier for methyl migration is lower than that for C–C bond activation, and the rate‐determining step is C–C coupling. In general, the low‐spin‐state pathways are lower in energy than the high‐spin‐state pathways; therefore, the reaction pathways for the oxidation of Sc⁺ and the Fe⁺‐mediated deethanization of acetone mostly involve the low‐spin states. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structural investigations of two bismuth-ammonium condensed phosphates: BiHNH4P3O10 and BiNH4(PO3)4

Chemical preparations and crystal structures are described for two new bismuth salts: BiHNH₄P₃O₁₀ and BiNH₄(PO₃)₄. The first one is a new type of tripolyphosphate, while the second one, a long chain polyphosphate, is isostructural with RbNd(PO₃)₄ and some other M^ILn(PO₃)₄ compounds. BiHNH₄P₃O₁₀ is triclinic, P1 , with a = 7.032(8), b = 7.696(4), c = 8.659(3) Å, α = 106.20(4), β = 105.86(4), γ = 82.78(4)°, Z = 2, V = 432.3 ų, Dx = 3.694. BiNH₄(PO₃)₄ is monoclinic, P2₁/n, with a = 10.925(9), b = 9.034(8), c = 10.438(9) Å, β = 106.18(4), Z = 4, V = 989.4 ų, Dx = 3.644. The crystal structure of BiHNH₄P₃O₁₀ has been solved by using 4253 independent reflexíons with a final R value of 0.056. The unit cell contains two P₃O₁₀^5? groups related by an inversion center while bismuth atoms in a eightfold coordination build infinite chains of edge-sharing BiO₈ polyhedra running parallel to the a axis. The crystal structure of BiNH₄(PO₃)₄ has been solved using 4330 independent reflexions with a final R value of 0.047. Infinite (PO₃)_∞ chains spread along the [101] direction, alternating with isolated BiO₈ polyhedra.     

Thermodynamics of the liquid expanded to condensed phase transition of poly(L-lactic acid) in Langmuir monolayers

Surface pressure-area per monomer (pi-A) isotherms show that poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) Langmuir monolayers exhibit a liquid expanded-to-condensed (LE/LC) phase transition at low surface pressure. Brewster angle microscopy images show circular domains where the LC phase is surrounded by the LE phase during phase coexistence. Morphology studies via atomic force microscopy show that well-ordered patterns are only observed for Langmuir-Blodgett films prepared in the LC phase, while no ordered features are observed in the LE phase. The morphological differences confirm that during the LE/LC phase transition PLLA molecules form well-ordered structures at the air/water interface. Analysis by the two-dimensional Clausius-Clapeyron equation is used to predict the critical parameters (X(c)). Both critical parameters, the critical temperature (T(c)) and the critical pressure (pi(c)), increase with increasing number average molar mass (M(n)) as X(c) = X(c,infinity) - KM(n)(-1), where X(c,infinity) is the value of the critical parameter at infinite molar mass and K is a constant. For PLLA T(c,infinity) = 36.2 +/- 0.3 degrees C and pi(c,infinity) = 4.53 +/- 0.06 mN x m(-1). This study provides a model polymer system for examining critical behavior in two dimensions.     

The thermodynamics of formation,molar heat capacity,and thermodynamic functions ofZrTiO4(cr)

As part of an ongoing study of titanate-based ceramic materials for the disposal of surplus weapons-grade plutonium, we report thermodynamic properties of a sample ofzirconium titanate (ZrTiO₄) quenched from a high-temperature synthesis. The standard enthalpy of formationΔ_fH_m^o was obtained by using high-temperature oxide-melt solution calorimetry. The molar heat capacity C_{p, m}was measured fromT =  13 K to T =  400 K in an adiabatic calorimeter and extrapolated toT =  1800 K by using an equation fitted to the low-temperature results. The results atT =  298.15 K areΔ_fH_m^o =  − (2024.1  ±  4.5)kJ · mol ^− 1,Δ₀^TS_m^o =  (116.71  ±  0.31 )J · K ^− 1· mol ^− 1, andΔ_fG_m^o =  − (1915.8  ±  4.5 )kJ · mol ^− 1; the molar entropy includes a contribution of 2 R ln2 to account for the random mixing of Zr^4 + and Ti^4 + on a four-fold crystallographic site. Values for the standard molar Gibbs energies and enthalpies of formation of ZrTiO_4,Δ_fG_m^oandΔ_fH_m^o , and for the free energies and enthalpies for the reaction to form ZrTiO₄(cr) from ZrO₂(cr) and TiO₂(cr), are tabulated over the temperature interval, 0 ⩽(T / K)⩽ 1800. From these results, we conclude that ZrTiO₄is not stable with respect to (ZrO₂ +  TiO₂) at T =  298.15 K, but becomes so at T =  (1250  ±  150) K.