Carbon-13 spin–lattice relaxation in some polyfluoroaromatic compounds

Carbon-13 chemical shifts, spin-lattice relaxation times and nuclear Overhauser enhancement factors are reported for five polyfluoroaromatic compounds at 28°C. In all cases the relaxation of the fluorine bearing carbon is predominantly dipolar. Effective correlation times are smaller than those of the analogous benzene derivatives by a factor of 3–4, in qualitative agreement with predictions from the Stokes–Einstein diffusion theory. The T₁ values for the para-carbon of monosubstituted fluorobenzenes is clearly shorter than the T₁ values for the ortho- and meta-carbons. This phenomenon was traced to anisotropic tumbling, and D∥ and D⊥ diffusion coefficients were computed using Woessner's equations for molecules assumed to behave like symmetric rotors about their C₂ in-plane principal symmetry axis. Equal tumbling ratios, D∥/D⊥, were found in this way for toluene and perfluorotoluene.     

Polyurethane cationomers III: Oxygen permeation

Dynamic oxygen permeation measurements at 20–70°C on films cast from solutions and emulsions of three series of polyurethane (PU) cationomers based on MDI, HDI, and TDI that are the subject of Parts I and II of this series were made by Barrer's vacuum technique. For the MDI system, films cast from solutions of ionized PU exhibit permeation coefficients P that are higher at 20–40°C (below the glass transition temperature T_gh of the hard domains) than at 50–70°C (above T_gh) by factors of about 5 and 40. This is the opposite of what is observed for normal homopolymers and un-ionized PU. This phenomenon is attributed to the continuous/dispersed morphology of these films. At the low temperature, oxygen molecules diffuse through the continuous phase (soft domains) only. But at the high temperature, oxygen molecules diffuse through soft domains and subsequently through hard domains, leading to an increase in diffusion pathlength. For films cast from the PU emulsions, such a drop in P was not observed because the hard domains were partially inverted from the dispersed phase to a continuous phase that gives an interwoven morphology. Such morphology allows oxygen molecules to diffuse through soft and phase-inverted hard domains simultaneously. For the HDI and TDI systems, P and D vs. 1/T plots show no zone of discontinuity. This is attributed to a T_gh that is lower than or close to the permeation temperature. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Molecular orientational motion in discotic liquid crystals

Abstract

The spectral densities of motion for the aromatic and chain deuterons of the discotic mesogen hexahexyoxytriphenylene (THE6) have been reported in the literature for a frequency of 46 MHz. Most spectral densities J_p (pω₀, 90°) have been obtained from samples consisting of a planar distribution of domains in which the directors were perpendicular to the magnetic field Limited data J_p (pω₀) have also been available from single-domain samples with the director aligned parallel to the magnetic field. We have applied the small-step rotational diffusion model of Nordio et al. to the data from the aromatic deuterons of THE6-ard in its uniaxial columnar D_ho phase, to describe the spinning (D _∥, rotational diffusion constant about the planar normal to the disc) and the tumbling (D?, rotational diffusion constant of the planar normal) motions of the molecular core. Although this model has been successfully used for rod-like nematic liquid crystals, its use has not been attempted for discotic liquid crystals. The model seems to indicate that molecular reorientation has slowed down in the D_ho phase, giving frequency dependence to the spectral densities. This can be explained by the high orientational order of the molecules. We are able to account for the four spectral densities J ₁ (ω₀), J ₁ (ω₀, 90°), J ₂ (2ω₀) and J ₂(2ω₀, 90°) with a calculated ratio D∥/D? of about 1. This is quite different from that of rodlike liquid crystals.     

IR and Raman study of rotational relaxation of furan and thiophene. I. Bandwidths. Comparison of the rotations about the principal axes of inertia

IR absorption and Raman scattering bandwidths of some fundamental modes of A₁, B₁ and B₂ species of furan and thiophene and their temperature dependence have been studied. This analysis has been carried out on the pure liquid phase. Rotational A, bandwidths are directly obtained. Rotational B₁ and B₂ bandwidths are deduced by using the Rakov model. The same activation energy U accounts for all the results concerning the reorientations around the three principal axes of inertia. The rotational diffusion coefficients D_x,D_y and D_z are then deduced from the rotational IR bandwidths. The results allow us to conclude that quasi isotropic molecular rotations occur in the liquid phase.     

Soret Coefficients for Aqueous Polyethylene Glycol Solutions and Some Tests of the Segmental Model of Polymer Thermal Diffusion

A thermogravitational cell is used to measure Soret coefficients (s) for dilute binary aqueous solutions of ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, and polyethylene glycol (PEG) fractions with average molecular weights from 200 to 20,000 g-mol^–1. The cell design allows the top and bottom halves of the solution column to be withdrawn and injected into a high-precision HPLC differential refractometer detector for analysis. Previously reported mutual diffusion coefficients D and the measured Soret coefficients are used to calculate thermal diffusion coefficients D _T. s and D vary with the PEG molecular weight M as M ^+0.53 and M ^–0.52, respectively; hence, D _T = sD is essentially independent of M. The segmental model of polymer thermal diffusion predicts D _T = D_seg U _S/RT ², where D _seg is the segment diffusion coefficient, U _S the solvent activation energy for viscous flow, R the gas constant, and T the temperature. The predicted D _T values, although independent of M, are too large by a factor of five. Additional tests of the segmental model are provided using literature data for polystyrene + toluene, n-alkane + CCl₄, and n-alkane + CHCl₃ solutions. Agreement with experiment is not obtained. In particular, the measured D _T values for the alkane solutions are negative.     

Molecular dynamics study of the ferroelectric liquid crystal CI IPNOC by proton spin-lattice relaxation

Abstract

Proton spin-lattice relaxation studies were carried out in the S_A and S*_C phases of the liquid crystal CI IPNOC using both conventional and fast field cycling NMR techniques. T ₁ dispersion curves were obtained at two different temperatures for each mesophase covering frequencies from 10² to 3 × 10⁸ Hz. In both mesophases the T ₁ data can be described assuming the presence of three different relaxation mechanisms, namely local molecular rotations, molecular self-diffusion and collective motions. The self-diffusion constant D ₁ was evaluated for several temperatures and the activation energy associated with the diffusion process was obtained. The expected contribution of the soft-mode for the spin-lattice relaxation could not be separated from the contribution of other collective motions. The correlation times associated with the rotations around the molecular long axis and with the fluctuations of this axis were evaluated for both the S_A and the S*_C phases.     

Molecular dynamics simulation study of friction and diffusion of a tracer in a Lennard–Jones solvent

The friction and diffusion coefficients of a tracer in a Lennard–Jones (LJ) solvent are evaluated by equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations in a microcanonical ensemble. The solvent molecules interact through a repulsive LJ force each other and the tracer of diameter σ₂ interacts with the solvent molecules through the same repulsive LJ force with a different LJ parameter σ. Positive deviation of the diffusion coefficient D of the tracer from a Stokes–Einstein behavior is observed and the plot of 1/D versus σ₂ shows a linear behavior. It is also observed that the friction coefficient ζ of the tracer varies linearly with σ₂ in accord with the prediction of the Stokes formula but shows a smaller slope than the Stokes prediction. When the values of ratios of sizes between the tracer and solvent molecules are higher than 5 approximately, the behavior of the friction and diffusion coefficients is well described by the Einstein relation D = k _B T/ζ, from which the tracer is considered as a Brownian particle.     

Role of diffusion in gel permeation chromatography

A theory is developed that describes the diffusion of solute into the gel particles during a gel permeation chromatographic experiment. The particles are treated as homogeneous spheres of radius a, into which diffusion takes place with diffusion coefficient D_s. The concentration in the mobile phase at any level at any time is supposed to be uniform throughout the cross-section of the column. It is shown that in the usual columns the effect of diffusion in the mobile phase is unimportant. A determinative quantity in the process is the parameter a²/D_st, where t is the time. For large values of a²/D_st an explicit expression for concentration versus time in the mobile phase at the end of the column is derived [eq. (26) and Fig. 1]. It shows a relatively long tail at large efflux volumes V, where the concentration varies at V^?3/2. For arbitrary values of a²/D_st the first three moments of the concentration versus time curve are calculated [eqs. (33)–(37)]. Pronounced skewness of the curve is found unless a²/D_st is small.     

Studies on relation between columnar order and electrical conductivity in HAT6 discotic liquid crystals using temperature-dependent Raman spectroscopy and DFT calculations

The vibrational property of 2,3,6,7,10,11-hexakis(hexyloxy)triphenylene (HAT6) discotic liquid crystal (DLC) material is investigated in this research by using temperature-dependent Raman spectroscopy technique. One-dimensional (1D) charge transport mechanism in the DLC molecules is enabled in the columnar liquid crystalline (D_h) phase. The result indicates a high core-to-core correlation in the liquid crystal columnar phase, which has a ‘memory’ like effect that extends into isotropic phase at femtosecond timescale. This correlation is also confirmed through electrical conductivity measurement of DLCs, in which the electrical conductivity is enhanced in the DLC phase. DFT simulation was also carried out in order to elucidate the basic properties of HAT6 such as the band gap in the light of Raman spectra. An interesting outcome is that a freely unspecified boundary model produces in a more flexible molecule, resulting in a reduced band gap. Thus, this work provides an understanding of relationship between columnar order and electrical conductivity of HAT6 molecule, and potential strategy for design of DLCs in electronics application.     

Molecular reorientation of liquid benzene. Anisotropic Raman scattering of the CH and CD stretching modes in the deuterated molecules

The anisotropic Raman spectra of the CH and CD stretching modes in seven deuterated benzenes of D_6h, D_3h, D_2h and C_2h symmetry are reported. The reorientational linewidths are interpreted within the model of anisotropic rotational diffusion. The data are consistent with NMR relaxation studies. The study covers the temperature range between T/T_c = 0.49 and T/T_c = 0.97.     

Translational diffusion of polystyrene in cyclohexane at infinite dilution from 283 to 348 K

The translational diffusion coefficients are reported for polystyrenes with molecular weights 2000, 4000, and 9000 in cyclohexane at infinite dilution from 283.2 to 348.2 K. The results suggest that the hydrodynamic radii stay constant to within ±3% and that the real chain for molecular weight 9000 at 308.2 K is well represented by a Gaussian or Monte Carlo model involving the idea of statistical steps. Furthermore, the success of Hildebrand's free-volume empiricism has led to a correlation between Dμ₀/T and M which represents the observed diffusivities to within ±2%.     

Columnar liquid crystalline assembly of a U‐shaped molecular scaffold stabilized by covalent or noncovalent incorporation of aromatic molecules

We report on our serendipitous finding of the anomalous behavior of a novel liquid crystalline (LC) molecule U _H/H , containing a U‐shaped handle. While U _H/H itself shows a bicontinuous cubic (Cub_bi) phase, U _H/H in the presence of pyrene molecules as an external guest forms a hexagonal columnar (Col_h) phase without phase separation. Interestingly, even when the pyrene molecules were covalently attached to U _H/H ( U _Py/Py ), the molecule exhibited a Col_h phase, with a similar columnar geometry to that of U _H/H mixed with pyrene molecules (1–4 equiv.). This result means that no matter how the pyrene moieties are incorporated in the LC system, the resultant material exhibited a similar molecular assembly with a columnar geometry. This finding is interesting because U _H/H and pyrene molecules do not seem to have specific interactions or shape complementarity to form a columnar assembly, as in the case of U _Py/Py . © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57, 342–351     

Dynamic behavior of water in hydro-swollen crosslinked polymer gel as studied by PGSE 1H NMR and pulse 1H NMR

¹H NMR measurements on spin-lattice relaxation time (T₁) and spin-spin relaxation time (T₂) were carried out on hydro-swollen crosslinked poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) gel to elucidate molecular motion of water molecules contained in the gel as a function of the degree of crosslinking. From these experimental results, it was found that ¹H T₁ and T₂ decrease with an increase of the degree of crosslinking. This shows that molecular motion of water molecules is strongly restrained owing to crosslinking. Further, pulsed-field-gradient spin-echo ¹H NMR measurements were carried out to determine the self-diffusion coefficient of water molecules (D_H2O contained in the PMAA gel at 300 K as a function of the degree of crosslinking. From these experimental results, it was found that the D_H2O value decreases with an increase of the degree of crosslinking. This shows that translational molecular motion of water molecules is restrained by crosslinking.     

Investigation on LCST behavior of a new amorphous/crystalline polymer blend: Poly(n‐methyl methacrylimide)/poly(vinylidene fluoride)

The liquid–liquid phase‐separation (LLPS) behavior of poly(n‐methyl methacrylimide)/poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PMMI/PVDF) blend was studied by using small‐angle laser light scattering (SALLS) and phase contrast microscopy (PCM). The cloud point (T_c) of PMMI/PVDF blend was obtained using SALLS at the heating rate of 1 °C min^?1 and it was found that PMMI/PVDF exhibited a low critical solution temperature (LCST) behavior similar to that of PMMA/PVDF. Moreover, T_c of PMMI/PVDF is higher than its melting temperature (T_m) and a large temperature gap between T_c and T_m exists. At the early phase‐separation stage, the apparent diffusion coefficient (D_app) and the product (2Mk) of the molecules mobility coefficient (M) and the energy gradient coefficient (k) arising from contributions of composition gradient to the energy for PMMI/PVDF (50/50 wt) blend were calculated on the basis of linearized Cahn‐Hilliard‐Cook theory. The kinetic results showed that LLPS of PMMI/PVDF blends followed the spinodal decomposition (SD) mechanism. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 1923–1931, 2008     

A Solid‐State Fluorescent Host System with a 21‐Helical Column Consisting of Chiral (1R,2S)‐2‐Amino‐1,2‐diphenylethanol and Fluorescent 1‐Pyrenecarboxylic Acid

A solid‐state fluorescent host system was created by self‐assembly of a 2₁‐helical columnar organic fluorophore composed of (1R,2S)‐2‐amino‐1,2‐diphenylethanol and fluorescent 1‐pyrenecarboxylic acid. This host system has a characteristic 2₁‐helical columnar hydrogen‐ and ionic‐bonded network. Channel‐like cavities are formed by self‐assembly of this column, and various guest molecules can be included by tuning the packing of this column. Moreover, the solid‐state fluorescence of this host system can change according to the included guest molecules. This occurs because of the change in the relative arrangement of the pyrene rings as they adjust to the tuning of the packing of the shared 2₁‐helical column, according to the size of the included guest molecules. Therefore, this host system can recognize slight differences in molecular size and shape.     

Diffusion of hydrogen isotopes and their mutual perturbation in Ti0.33V0.67HxDy (x+y≈0.9) studied by H and H NMR

Ti_0.33V_0.67H_xD_y (x+y≈0.9) alloys have been studied by means of X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and ¹H and ²H NMR. The crystal structures are body-centered-cubic (bcc) dominantly, being mixed with a face-centered-cubic (fcc) phase. A phase transition similar to that from the δ_D phase to the α_D phase in the V-D system is observed in all the samples except for the protide. H and D are considered to occupy tetrahedral sites. The temperature and frequency dependence of spin-lattice relaxation times T₁ of ¹H and ²H has been analyzed by Bloembergen-Purcell-Pound equations with a distribution of correlation times, and parameters of hydrogen diffusion are estimated. The mean activation energy for D diffusion (E_D) is higher than that for H diffusion (E_H). E_H is constant while E_D increases slightly with the [D]/[H] ratio. The distribution of the correlation times increases as the [D]/[H] ratio decreases.     

A novel dimeric discotic liquid crystal based on anthraquinone

A novel dimer based on the disc-like anthraquinone core-bis[1-(4-nitrobenzyloxy)-2,3,6,7-tetrapentyloxy-9,10-anthraquinon-5-oxy]do and its corresponding monomer 1-hexyloxy5-(4-nitrobenzyloxy)-2,3,6,7-tetrapentyloxy-9,10-anthraquinone, have been synthesized and characterized. X-ray diffraction studies show that this novel dimer exhibits a hexagonal columnar phase (Col_h) with correlation among the molecular cores along the column. The Col_h phase of the dimer exists over a very wide temperature range, extending from 176°C down to at least 60°C (the lowest temperature reached in DSC), whereas the monomer exhibits a Col_h phase at high temperature and a three-dimensionally ordered columnar phase (Col_x) at low temperature.     

A simple molecular model for N-SmAd-NdRe-N1Re-SmA1 phase sequence in highly polar compounds

Our earlier model of re-entrant liquid crystalline phases exhibited by highly polar compounds, in which the mutual orientation of near-neighbour molecules can change from an antiparallel to a parallel configuration, has been extended to include both nematic and smectic interactions. We show that, as the McMillan parameter alpha is decreased, the SmA_d-SmA₁ line goes over to the SmA_d-N_1Re line, finally becoming the N_dRe-N_1Re transition line, the latter ending in a critical point. This sequence is in agreement with the predictions of Prost's Landau model as well as with an experimental result. The phase sequence N-SmA_d-N_dRe-N_1Re-SmA₁ is obtained on cooling for a range of alpha_A values.     

Isomorphism within the hexagonal columnar mesophase of molecular and macromolecular self- and co-assembled columns containing tapered groups

Abstract

The phase behaviour of binary mixtures of self-assembled tapering molecules based on monoesters of oligooxyethylene glycol and 3,4,5-tris[4-(n-dodecan-1-yloxy)benzyloxy]benzoic acid, their corresponding polymethacrylates, and of 4′-methyl (benzo-15-crown-5)-3,4,5-tris[4-(n-dodecan-1-yloxy)benzyloxy]benzoate within their hexagonal columnar mesophase (Φ_h) is described. The binary blends between molecular tapers co-assemble into a single supramolecular column resulting in isomorphism within their Φ_h mesophase over the entire range of composition. The binary blends between polymethacrylates containing tapered side groups co-assemble into a single Φ_h phase only when the columns of the parent polymers are of similar diameters. This results in binary mixtures which are isomorphic within the Φ_h mesophase over the entire composition range. When the diameters of the columns formed by the parent polymers are dissimilar, isomorphic mixtures are obtained only over a narrow range of composition. Binary mixtures between molecular tapers and macromolecular systems containing tapered side groups co-assemble into a single column to the extent that intercalation of the molecular taper, within the column formed by the macromolecular system containing tapered side groups, is permissible. In all systems increased intracolumnar interactions can be induced by complexation of CF₃SO₃Li by the oligooxyethylenic receptors leading to isomorphism in otherwise non-isomorphic mixtures. Ternary mixtures between molecular tapers with non-specific oligooxyethylenic receptors and specific crown ether receptors and CF₃SO₃ Na as the third component are non-isomorphic within their Φ_h phase due to preferential complexation of the alkali metal cation by the column of the crown ether containing the molecular taper. This results in two columns of dissimilar diameters, which are isomorphic in the Φ_h phase only within a limited range of composition.     

Small molecule diffusion in a rubbery polymer near Tg: Effects of probe size,shape, and flexibility

A novel experimental approach involving fluorescence nonradiative energy transfer (NRET) is employed to study the Fickian diffusion of small molecules in rubbery poly(isobutyl methacrylate) (PiBMA) films near the glass transition, using a formalism that directly relates the small molecule translational diffusion coefficient, D, to changes in the normalized nonradiative energy transfer efficiency, E_N. Values of D for pyrene, 1,3-bis-(1-pyrene) propane (BPP), 1,3-bis-(1-pyrene) decane (BPD), 9,10-bis-phenyl ethynyl anthracene (BPEA), diphenyl Disperse Red 4 (DPDR4), and decacyclene in PiBMA are measured over temperatures ranging from approximately T_g to T_g + 25°C. Among these chromophores, significant differences in both the magnitude and temperature dependence of D are observed which are attributed to differences in molecule shape and flexibility, as well as molar volume. Other factors being equal, chromophore flexibility was shown both to increase the magnitude of D and to decrease its dependence on temperature, as does an increase in aspect ratio. For BPD, these effects are attributed to the ability of the flexible molecule to diffuse in a piecewise manner, requiring the cooperative mobility of fewer polymer chain segments than a rigid molecule of the same molar volume. For BPEA and DPDR4, this deviation from D being dominated by molar volume effects is attributed the to high aspect ratio of these elongated molecules. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.