Planar nematic anchoring on SiO-coated substrates

Summary The nematic planar anchoring is usually explained by using simple elastic models: the surface easy axis corresponds to the surface direction that minimizes the excess of nematic elastic energy. When anisotropic rough substrates are used to align nematic liquid crystals, due to the complex surface morphology, usual elastic models are not directly applicable. This paper presents quantitative topographical data of rough substrates, obtained with oblique SiO evaporation under vacuum for nematic planar anchoring. Experimental data are obtained by means of Atomic Force Microscopy and they are used to demonstrate the self-affine nature of these substrates and to relate the nematic anchoring with the anisotropy of the local fractal properties of the substrate itself. Paper presented at the I International Conference on Scaling Concepts and Complex Fluids, Copanello, Italy, July 4–8, 1994.     

Large second-order optical nonlinearities of s-triazine derivatives: View from micro molecules to macro crystals

Organic nonlinear optics (NLO) is also called mo-lecular nonlinear optics. In recent years organic mate-rials have been intensively studied because of their large NLO coefficients and structural diversities[1―3]. Second harmonic generation (SHG) is a bas…     

Surface effects in field-induced smectic transitions

We study the surface behavior of a semi-infinite smectogenic sample bounded by a solid wall, in the presence of an external electric field. Our analysis is performed in the framework of a Landau-de Gennes theory. For the sake of simplicity, we consider only the case in which, in the absence of field and surfaces, a direct isotropic to smectic-A transition occurs, while in the presence of the electric field a nonspontaneous nematic phase appears. Two new surface phases are identified, namely a parasmectic and a surface-induced smectic phase. The shifts in the transition temperatures and the critical behavior of the surface states are analyzed. Received: 25 August 1997 / Accepted: 23 January 1998     

Photorefractive shearing interferometer

A novel method of obtaining shearing interferogram by slightly moving the crystal in a photorefractive interferometer is proposed. This method can measure the phase of an object itself instead of its diffraction field, and it is easy to realize continuously changeable shearing distance in any lateral direction and introduce carrier fringes at the same time. Both the theoretical analysis and experimental verification are given.     

Topological order in the phase diagram for high-temperature superconductors with point defects

Applying a Lindemann like criterion obtained previously by Kierfeld et al. [J. Kierfeld, T. Nattermann, T. Hwa, Phys. Rev. B 55 (1997) 626], we estimate the magnetic field and temperature for a high-T_c superconductor, at which a topologically ordered vortex glass phase becomes unstable with respect to a disorder-induced formation of dislocations. The employed criterion is shown to be equivalent to a conventional phenomenological Lindemann criterion including the values for the numerical factors, i.e., for the Lindemann number. The positional correlation length of the topologically ordered vortex glass is calculated.     

聚乙烯单晶的退火效应

用混合晶红外光谱法和ＳＡＸＳ、ＤＳＣ和ＬＡＭ等方法研究了聚乙烯单晶在７５℃、９０℃和１０５℃退火前后的结构变化，发现在９０℃以下和１０５℃以上退火，遵循不同的退火机制     

The effect of polyether terminal chains in the liquid crystalline behavior of ortho-palladated complexes

A series of benzylideneanilines bearing terminal polyether chains, HL (HL = R-C₆H₄-CHN-C₆H₄-R′: R = OC₈H₁₇, R′ = O(CH₂CH₂O)₂C₂H₅; R = O(CH₂CH₂O)₂C₂H₅, R′ = OC₈H₁₇; R = R′ = O(CH₂CH₂O)₂C₂H₅; R = OC₁₂H₂₅, R′ = O(CH₂CH₂O)₃C₂H₅; R = O(CH₂CH₂O)₃C₂H₅, R′ = OC₁₂H₂₅; R = R′ = O(CH₂CH₂O)₃C₂H₅) have been prepared. Their dinuclear, [Pd(μ-X)L]₂ (X = OAc, Cl, Br, SC₈), [Pd₂(μ-SCn)(μ-X)L₂] (X = OAc, Cl; n = 8, 2) and mononuclear orthopalladated derivatives, Pd(acac)L, Pd(Ala)L, are reported and their mesogenic properties are compared with those of the analogous compounds with alkoxy chains. In general a great lowering in the melting points is produced for all the products. The free ligands and the alanine complexes are not liquid crystals. The chloro-bridged complexes bearing alkoxy and short polyether chains (O(CH₂CH₂O)₂C₂H₅) show the larger improvement of mesogenic properties. Longer polyether chains (O(CH₂CH₂O)₃C₂H₅) result usually in a destabilization of the mesophases. If only polyether chains are present, the destabilization is important regardless of the chain length. The ability of these molecules as ionic extractants and transporters was qualitatively evaluated for the more propitious cis-dinuclear complexes, which in fact showed some extracting ability, modest but improved compared to the free ligands.     

核磁共振法测定高聚物的结构—核磁共振二维谱

介绍了核磁共振(NMR)波谱,尤其是核磁共振二维谱(2D NMR)在最近几年内的进展。内容包括怎样用NMR测定高聚物的序列分布、共聚物结构、聚合物的混溶性、聚合物液晶的取向度、分子量、短链度和长链支化度、凝聚态高聚物的多相结构等。     

The thermal decomposition of NaHCO3 powders and single crystals

The thermal decomposition of four commercial powders and of differently stored single crystals of sodium hydrogen carbonate is studied by power compensation DSC and by optical and FT-IR microscopy. Independently of manufacturer, specified purity and price, the thermal curves of all the commercial powders show a more or less pronounced low temperature peak preceding the one due to the main decomposition. Such small peak is not observed when samples of laboratory recrystallized material are used. However the thermal behaviour of the latter preparation differs remarkably depending on storage conditions: the material kept in closed glass containers decomposes at temperatures higher than those of the material stored in a dessiccator in the presence of concentrated H₂SO₄. The observation by optical microscopy of the behaviour of the surfaces of single crystals coming from different storage conditions when the temperature is raised in a Kofler heater helps the interpretation of the data collected. The mechanism of the decomposition is discussed and the relevant kinetic parameters reported.