Electro-optical studies on synthetic polyelectrolytes—III: Electric birefringence of poly-n-alkyl-4-vinylpyridinium bromides in various solvents

The field strength dependences of the electric birefrigence of poly-N-butyl-4-vinylpyridinium (4-PVP · BuBr) samples have been measured in water and in various organic polar solvents. The observed change of sign of the birefringence, negative in water and positive in nitromethane, is explained by considering the respective influences of the intrinsic and form optical anisotropies. The lower degree of extension of the polyelectrolyte in some organic solvents is attributed to a lower degree of dissociation of the ionic sites. The influence of the dielectric constant and of the functional character of the solvent on the dissociation and solvation processes of the ionic sites is taken into account. Relaxation measurements in dimethylsulphoxide as a function of the molecular weight allow quantitative expression of the degrees of extension and of rigidity of the polyelectrolyte; the presence of aggregates has also been detected in DMSO solutions. A long alkyl chain, such as octyl, attached to the quaternary pyridinium groups strongly modifies the conformation of the polyelectrolyte and a polyelectrolyte-polysoap transition has been observed as a function of the solvent composition in water-ethanol mixtures.     

Optical, dynamic, and electro-optical properties of poly(N-acryloyl-11-aminoundecanoic acid) in solutions

The optical, electro-optical, and dynamic characteristics of poly(N-acryloyl-11-aminoundecanoic acid) in organic solvents and of the sodium salt of its monomer in water were studied via the methods of flow birefringence, equilibrium and nonequilibrium electric birefringence, and dynamic light scattering. It is shown that, in aqueous solutions, the monomer forms coarse particles of both symmetric and asymmetric shapes. The linear dimensions of these particles are estimated from the data of translational and rotational diffusion. Polymer macromolecules in organic solvents feature negative anisotropy of optical polarizability. Contributions of optical microform and macroform effects to the observed flow birefringence are analyzed in detail. The intrinsic optical anisotropy of the monomer unit of the polymer, which correlates well with the corresponding values for comb-shaped polymers of a similar structure, is estimated. It is shown that polymer molecules lack marked intrinsic permanent macromolecular dipoles and that electric birefringence in their solutions is associated with macroscopic induced dipole moments that appear during orientation of the dipole moments of polar groups in side chains of the polymer under application of an electric field.     

Dynamic birefringence of poly(styrene-4-sulfonate sodium) macromolecules in aqueous solutions at high ionic strengths

For samples of various molecular masses, the flow birefringence of poly(styrene-4-sulfonate sodium) macromolecules in aqueous solutions at various ionic strengths is studied in relation to the concentration of NaCl. It is shown that the sign of birefringence changes from negative to positive with an increase in the ionic strength of a solution. Application of the macroform theory to the Maxwell effect makes it possible to estimate the intrinsic optical anisotropy of the repeating unit of poly(styrene-4-sulfonate sodium) (a||- a⊥) = −17 × 10^-25 cm³), which nearly coincides with similar values known for atactic polystyrene and poly(κ-methylstyrene).     

Electrical and dynamooptical properties of Frechet dendron-modified polystyrene molecules in solutions

The electrooptical, dynamic, and dielectric characteristics of polystyrene modified by the Frechet dendrons of 1–4 generations have been studied in benzene, chloroform, and THF solutions. It has been shown that the Kerr constant and the shear optical coefficient for all the studied polymers coincide in sign and their absolute values increase with the dendron generation number. The intrinsic optical anisotropy of the repeating unit of dendronized polystyrene molecules is negative in sign, and its absolute value tends to grow with an increase in the generation number of dendrons. The frequency dispersions of the Kerr constand and of the dielectric polarization have been discovered for solutions of the modified polymer. The ratio between the times of relaxation characterizing the dispersion of dielectric permittivity and of the Kerr constant of solutions and the times of a rise and decay of electric birefringence measured on the onset and termination of the rectangular-pulsed field does not obey the longitudinal relaxation theory for polar macromolecules. The relaxation times of dielectric polarization and of electric birefringence tend to increase with the dendron generation number.     

Anomalous electric birefringence behavior of sonicated DNA fragments as observed in reversing-pulse transients and steady-state sign reversal: a multicomponent approach

Anomalous electric birefringence signals of a sonicated and column-fractionated medium-size calf thymus DNA sample (bp  =  570) in Na⁺ solutions were measured at 7 °C. The reversing-pulse electric birefringence (RPEB) signal pattern was theoretically calculated in the low electric field region for two axially symmetric models coexisting in equilibrium in solution. The RPEB theory is based on the electric dipole moment due to ion-fluctuation along the longitudinal direction and the electric polarizability anisotropy (Δ′), together with various electric and optical parameters assigned to the models. An analytical method was developed for the steady-state birefringence of the two-component system in a wide range of electric fields. The NaDNA samples exhibit complex RPEB patterns mixed with negative- and positive-going profiles. An experimental RPEB signal of NaDNA at an absorbance (A₂₆₀) of 8 was fitted to theoretical curve at weak electric fields. The anomalous RPEB signal was attributed to the component 2, which shows a dip in the buildup and another in the reverse processes with a positive sign and a larger relaxation time. For the component 1, a normal DNA profile with negative sign is associated with a narrow dip in the reverse and a faster relaxation time in the decay signal. The field-strength dependence of observed steady-state birefringence δ(∞) could be fitted for NaDNA at A₂₆₀  =  8 by the SUSID orientation function with saturated ionic and electronic moments. An apparent positive maximum and the sign reversal in δ(∞) at weak electric fields is an interplay between the positive component 2 with positive optical factor Δg and negative Δ′ and the negative component 1 with negative Δg and positive Δ′. Possible conformation of two DNA components involved in solution was estimated.     

Chain orientation and intrinsic anisotropy in birefringence-free polymer blends

We found 10 miscible pairs of dissimilar polymers that rendered birefringence-free polymer blends. Each pair consists of a positive birefringence polymer and a negative one. Zero birefringence in the blend is attained as the result of compensation of positive and negative contributions to the overall birefringence. This concept was confirmed by characterizing the chain orientation of individual chains in the blend using polarized Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and by estimating theoretically the intrinsic optical anisotropy of the chain molecules.     

Electrooptics of beta-FeOOH particle in aqueous media 2. Field-strength dependence of decay and steady-state birefringence, and the hydrodynamic and electrooptic properties

Steady-state and decay birefringence, expressed in terms of the optical phase retardation per cell length delta/d, was measured on beta-FeOOH in aqueous ionic media at 633 nm and at 25 degrees C by an electric square-pulse technique over a wide range of field strength E to ca. 6 kV/cm. The field-strength dependence of both delta/d and field-free rotational relaxation time tau was determined at the sample concentrations between 0.0011 and 0.055 g/L and in the 0.02-2.0 mM NaCl concentration range. Extrapolation of both delta/d and tau values to infinitely high fields (E(2)-->infinity) could yield birefringence- and weight-average quantities, respectively. Observed tau values were decreased at weak fields but leveled off to ca. 0.3 ms at very high fields due to a slight polydispersity regarding the length and volume of particles. The weight-average relaxation time tau(w) was calculated with Perrin's expressions theoretically from the length, width, and volume of beta-FeOOH particles estimated in the dried state from electron micrograph. These quantities were variously averaged. The size distribution was discussed in terms of observed discrete histogram and theoretical (Weibull and Lansing-Kraemer) distribution functions. The sign of observed delta/d value was always positive. The infinitely high-field (delta/d)(infinity) values and the reduced optical anisotropy factor Delta g/n were evaluated by fitting to theoretical orientation functions. The intrinsic birefringence (n3-n1) could be estimated with the mean refractive index n(p) reported in the literature. For the spindle-shaped particle with an axial ratio of ca. 4, the sign of Delta g/n is always positive, whereas the quantity (n3-n1) was either negative (n(p) > 2.35) or positive (n(p) < 2.05) in sign or nearly zero (ca. n(p) = 2.26), depending critically on the n(p) values.     

Influence of the length of side substituents on optical and electro-optical properties of polydialkoxyphosphazenes

The electro-optical and dynamo-optical properties of dilute solutions of polydialkoxyphosphazenes with different lengths of side substituents are studied. Sign inversion of the specific Kerr constant and of the reduced flow birefringence for the number of carbon atoms in side aliphatic chains, m, varying from 3 to 7 is ascertained. The anisotropy of optical polarizability of a monomer unit changes in the studied series of polydialkoxyphosphazenes. It attains the minimum values and changes its sign from positive to negative at m = 5?C6. The resulting data provide an explanation for the mesomorphism of these polydialkoxyphosphazenes, which is connected with the possibility of alternative orientation of monomer units.     

Photoelasticity and structure of PMMA networks

The optical anisotropy (=polarizability) of uniaxial deformed swollen and unswollen PMMA networks depends on the temperature. This is not in agreement with the Kuhn-Grün-theory. The temperature dependence and the negative values even above the glass transition temperatureT _g can be explained by the existence of associations which cause a hindrance of the ester side group mobility. The swelling of the network in the optical isotropic solvent carbon tetrachloride does not degrade the associations and therefore not change the network structure; onlyT _g decreases. The situation is more complicated if optical anisotropic solvents are used. Polar aliphatic and aromatic solvents degrade the associations to some extend and the birefringence is shifted to more positive values. An additional change is caused by specific polymer solvent interactions. Aromatic solvents form complexes with the ester side group and the aliphatic solvent chloroform completely degrades the associations, which can be explained by the formation of hydrogen bonds. Sign and magnitude of the optical anisotropy allow statements on the orientation of the solvent molecules with respect to the polymer chain or the ester side group.Vorgetragen von H. J. Kock auf der Frühjahrstagung der Deutschen Physikalischen Gesellschaft, Fachausschuß Polymerphysik, Ulm 1983.     

Time-resolved simultaneous polarized and depolarized light scattering system with high sensitivity to optical anisotropy: application to phase separation of an optically isotropic liquid mixture

Depolarized light scattering is widely used to probe the spatial correlation of optical anisotropy in crystals, liquid crystals, and viscoelastic materials under stress, and a powerful means to study a non-equilibrium pattern evolution process of such a system. To follow the temporal change in the diagonal and off-diagonal contributions of the dielectric tensor, it is highly desirable to measure two-dimensional (2D) polarized (HH: horizontally transmitted, horizontally received) and depolarized (VH: vertically transmitted, horizontally received) scattering patterns simultaneously in a time-resolved manner. We develop a light scattering system with a video-rate time resolution as well as very high sensitivity to optical anisotropy. To detect extremely weak VH scattering from a sample without suffering from residual birefringence of the optical system itself and leakage of strong HH scattering signals, we use an objective lens specially designed for polarizing microscopy and Glan-laser prisms, respectively. This system enables us to experimentally elucidate the origin of VH scattering: we use the ratio of the VH and HH scattering intensity as a fingerprint for whether a 2D VH scattering pattern is caused by (i) optical anisotropy (intrinsic birefringence) or merely by (ii) spatial inhomogeneity of optically isotropic materials. We verify the validity of this method for a process of phase separation in a binary mixture of isotropic liquids. The simultaneous HH and VH measurement allows us to directly estimate the ratio of VH and HH scattering intensity accurately. The careful comparison of this ratio with a simple theory unambiguously demonstrates that the 2D VH scattering pattern is caused by the scattering angle dependence of the diffraction efficiency of light with the two polarization directions. That is, the origin of VH scattering is due to geometrical effects of the inhomogeneous distribution of the refractive index and not due to optical birefringence, as it should be for the optically isotropic sample. This method using the ratio of VH and HH scattering intensity may be widely used for distinguishing the two types of origins for a VH scattering pattern in an unambiguous manner.     

Molecular and Conformational Properties of Dendronized Polymethacrylate in Organic Solvent

The conformational and dynamo-optical properties of a homologous series of polymethacrylate modified by first-generation Fréchet-type dendrons in the molecular mass range of 70–8800 kDa in organic solvents were studied by viscometry, isothermal diffusion, dynamic light scattering, and flow birefringence. The Mark-Kuhn-Houwink equations for this dendronized polymer in toluene and chloroform together with hydrodynamic diameter and Kuhn segment length in toluene are defined as well as the value of intrinsic anisotropy of polarizability for the monomer unit.     

Effect of aging on flow birefringence of poly(vinyl alcohol) and methyl cellulose solutions

Flow birefringence experiments on aqueous solutions of poly(vinyl alcohol) and of methyl cellulose show that the optical anisotropy changes markedly during aging of the solution. The same effect can be obtained by adding alcohol to fresh aqueous methyl cellulose solutions. The flow birefringence was measured as a function of the velocity gradient on solutions with and without alcohol during the course of aging. The phenomena are attributed to intermolecular and intramolecular interactions between exposed hydroxyl groups of the polymer chains, as these are affected by a change in the degree of hydration during aging or by the addition of a strong hydrophilic agent such as an alcohol. Association or crystallization of the ordered polymer chains may occur and lead to a supermolecular structure in the solutions. By following Sadron's theory and making use of a polar diagram, it was concluded that, after aging or mixing with the additive, the solutions become optically heterogeneous and contain two different components with optical polarizabilities of the same [in poly (vinyl alcohol) solutions] or opposite (in methyl cellulose solutions) sign.     

A new approach for controlling birefringent property of cyclic olefin copolymers

This article reports an original method to control the birefringent property of the cyclic olefin copolymer, which has been recently commercialized as a new type of optical resins, via introduction of a third monomer that possesses a negative birefringence into the cyclic olefin copolymer that exhibits an inherently positive birefringence. The mutual compensation between these opposite‐sign birefringences effectively reduced the birefringent magnitude of the corresponding terpolymer. In fact, terpolymerization of norbornene (N), ethylene (E), and styrene (S), in which S exhibits a negative birefringence regarding to the positive birefringence of the NE copolymer was successfully prepared using fluorenylamidodimethyltitanium‐based catalyst, yielding NES terpolymers with controllable birefringent property. Especially, when the S content in the NES terpolymer was controlled at optimum values, it is possible to synthesize a new type of the cyclic olefin copolymer that exhibits an extremely low birefringent magnitude close to zero regardless of high degrees of chain orientation. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 7395–7400, 2008     

Theory of solvation in polar nematics

We develop a linear response theory of solvation of ionic and dipolar solutes in anisotropic, axially symmetric polar solvents. The theory is applied to solvation in polar nematic liquid crystals. The formal theory constructs the solvation response function from projections of the solvent dipolar susceptibility on rotational invariants. These projections are obtained from Monte Carlo simulations of a fluid of dipolar spherocylinders which can exist both in the isotropic and nematic phases. Based on the properties of the solvent susceptibility from simulations and the formal solution, we have obtained a formula for the solvation free energy which incorporates the experimentally available properties of nematics and the length of correlation between the dipoles in the liquid crystal. The theory provides a quantitative framework for analyzing the steady-state and time-resolved optical spectra and makes several experimentally testable predictions. The equilibrium free energy of solvation, anisotropic in the nematic phase, is given by a quadratic function of cosine of the angle between the solute dipole and the solvent nematic director. The sign of solvation anisotropy is determined by the sign of dielectric anisotropy of the solvent: solvation anisotropy is negative in solvents with positive dielectric anisotropy and vice versa. The solvation free energy is discontinuous at the point of isotropic-nematic phase transition. The amplitude of this discontinuity is strongly affected by the size of the solute becoming less pronounced for larger solutes. The discontinuity itself and the magnitude of the splitting of the solvation free energy in the nematic phase are mostly affected by microscopic dipolar correlations in the nematic solvent. Illustrative calculations are presented for the equilibrium Stokes shift and the Stokes shift time correlation function of coumarin-153 in 4-n-pentyl-4'-cyanobiphenyl and 4,4-n-heptyl-cyanopiphenyl solvents as a function of temperature in both the nematic and isotropic phases.     

Dielectric and visco-elastic properties of laterally fluorinated liquid crystal single compounds and their mixture

The physical properties of three laterally fluorinated liquid crystalline compounds with negative dielectric anisotropy have been studied from static dielectric permittivity, optical birefringence, bend elastic constant, relaxation time and rotational viscosity measurements. Such negative dielectric anisotropy materials find use as components of mixtures for application in vertically aligned mode liquid crystal displays. Moreover, the physical properties of one phenyl cyclohexane compound with positive dielectric anisotropy have also been studied. A five-component mixture comprising these four mesogens and a non-mesogenic component has been formulated and its physical properties have been thoroughly investigated. An attempt has been made to strike a balance between the optical birefringence of the mixture to adjust the cell gap and the dielectric anisotropy and threshold voltage (V_th ) to ensure low driving voltages. The pretilt angle effect on the threshold voltage and the relaxation time has also been studied. At T?=?20°C, the response time decreases to 22% and 41% for the mixture for 2° and 5° pretilt as compared to zero pretilt. On the other hand, at the same temperature the V_th values are decreased by 5% and 9%, respectively.     

Optical and swelling properties of macroscopic “single crystals” of an S–B–S copolymer. I. Samples possessing a lamellar morphology

Samples of an S–B–S three block copolymer exhibiting a lamellar morphology have been prepared, in which the macrolattice formed from the segregated amorphous is uniformly oriented throughout the sample volume. The associated optical anisotropy has been studied in the unswollen state and in the presence of preferential solvents for the polybutadiene phase. The results obtained are consistent with form birefringence being the dominant contribution to the observed birefringence. There is a small contribution from a slight molecular orientation, corresponding to polystyrene chains perpendicular to the lamellar surfaces. The form birefringence is appropriately modified when the sample is in the swollen state by molecular orientation produced in the polybutadiene, due to the anisotropic dimensional changes in the sample. The implication of the results as regards the nature of the polybutadiene phase is also discussed.     

Electric birefringence of discotic benzene-hexa-n-heptanoate in isotropic solution phase

Abstract

The electric birefringence of solutions of oblate discogen and prolate nematogen in dioxane has been examined. Discotic benzene-hexa-n-heptanoate (BH7) exhibits negative birefringence, while nematic 5CB and MBBA exhibit positive birefringences at low concentrations. Possible modes of solute orientation, compatible with the observed birefringence sign, are discussed. For BH7, it is suggested that the in-plane axes with larger optical polarizabilities align perpendicular to the field direction. The dependence of the specific Kerr constant on the solution concentration is also reported.     

Effect of solvent nature on the optical anisotropy of poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) molecules

The optical properties of poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) solutions in solvents possessing optical anisotropy have been studied with dynamic birefringence measurements. In solvents characterized by refractive indexes different from the refractive index of a dry polymer, the optical form effect has been discovered. This effect is determined by the shape asymmetry of a macromolecular segment and its rigidity. Estimates showed that the length of the statistical segment, which characterizes the thermodynamic rigidity of the macromolecular chains under study, is 82 × 10^?8 cm. The shear optical coefficient for solutions of the test polymer in an anisotropic solvent is markedly higher than the corresponding value in an isotropic solvent. This difference is related to the orientation of anisotropic solvent molecules along the main chain of a macromolecule by their highest polarizability axis. Under the assumption that the orientational order of solvent molecules relative to chain macromolecules is independent of the thermodynamic rigidity of chain molecules, the size of the statistical segment of the macromolecules in question has been independently estimated as 98 × 10^?8 cm.     

Fluorescence anisotropy imaging reveals localization of meso-tetrahydroxyphenyl chlorin in the nuclear envelope

We have measured the intrinsic fluorescence anisotropies of six photosensitizers in homogeneous solution, and we have imaged the anisotropies of these sensitizers in tumor cell monolayers using polarization-sensitive laser-scanning confocal microscopy. The intrinsic anisotropies are unremarkable and are within the approximate range of 0.2–0.27. In cells, however, very interesting behavior is exhibited by meso -tetrahydroxyphenyl chlorin (mTHPC). Polarization-sensitive images of mTHPC's fluorescence show a pronounced banding of alternating high and low anisotropy consistent with an ordering of the sensitizer in the nuclear envelope, indicating that this structure is a target of photodynamic damage with this sensitizer. None of the other sensitizers exhibits localization to the nuclear envelope. The frequency distributions of the intracellular anisotropies of the sensitizers exhibit variable peaks and widths. An unusual case is that of Photofrin, with a peak in its anisotropy frequency distribution of –0.12. The change from a positive intrinsic anisotropy in homogeneous solution to a negative value in cells suggests an environmentally induced change in the relative orientations of the absorption and emission dipole moments.     

Conformational and optical properties of macromolecules of some aliphatic-substituted cellulose esters

Synthesized cellulose pelargonates, tridecanoates, valerates, and acetovalerates of various molecular weights are studied in chloroform, dioxane, and tetrachloroethane solutions by the methods of isothermal translational diffusion, sedimentation velocity method, flow birefringence (dynamooptical Maxwell effect), viscometry, and equilibrium electric birefringence (Kerr effect). The equilibrium polymer rigidities are determined and the role of the solvent and temperature in the formation of the conformational characteristics of the macromolecules under study is analyzed. The values of the intrinsic optical anisotropy of the monomeric units of the studied cellulose esters are experimentally determined. The contribution of the side chains to the optical anisotropy of the macromolecules of cellulose esters with aliphatic substituents is analyzed. The results obtained in this study are compared with the data on the cellulose esters with the aliphatic side substituents studied earlier. For the studied samples, the values of the longitudinal components of the monomeric unit dipoles in a nonpolar solvent are estimated.