Mesophase behaviour of laterally di-fluoro-substituted four-ring compounds

Four new groups of the di-fluoro-substituted 4-(2′-(or 3′)-fluoro phenylazo)-2-(or 3-) fluoro phenyl-4″-alkoxyphenylazo benzoates (In–IVn) were prepared and investigated for their mesophase behaviour. An alkoxy group of variable chain length (n = 6, 10 and 14 carbons) is attached to the terminal phenylazo benzoate moiety, and two lateral fluoro substituents are attached individually with different orientations to the other two adjacent rings. The molecular structures of the prepared compounds were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The study aims to investigate the steric effect of the spatial orientation and relative positions of the two lateral fluorine atoms on the mesomorphic properties in their pure states. The mesophase behaviour was investigated via differential scanning calorimetry and mesophases were identified by polarised light microscopy. The investigation shows that these compounds exhibit high enantiotropic mesophases (SmC and N) and broad mesophase temperature range. The type and stability of the mesophase depends on the length of the terminal alkoxy chain and the position the two fluoro substituents. A comparison between these investigated compounds with their corresponding three-ring analogues was discussed.     

Elastic,dielectric and optical constants of the nematic mixture E49

The Merck nematic mixture E49 exhibits a large nematic interval (0–100 °C) and a large dielectric anisotropy. Both of these features make E49 interesting for applications and basic physics. Unfortunately, no systematic measurements of the material constants of this mixture and their temperature dependence have been reported in the literature. In this paper we report experimental measurements of the splay and bend elastic constants (K ₁₁ and K ₃₃) of the ordinary and the extraordinary refractive indices (n _ort and n _par) at the wavelength λ?=?632.8 nm and of the two elastic constants parallel and orthogonal to the director (ε_par and ε_ort) at the frequency ν?=?5?kHz. The temperature dependence of all of these parameters is found in the temperature range 25–99 °C. The measurements of the elastic constants are performed using both a dielectric and an optical method simultaneously on the same nematic sample. The results obtained using the two methods are in a satisfactory agreement between them within the estimated experimental uncertainty. The ordinary and the extraordinary indices are measured using the prism method.     

Synthesis,mesogenic and dielectric properties of fluorosubstituted isothiocyanatoterphenyls

The synthesis, mesomorphic and physical properties of 14 homologous series of laterally fluorinated 4?-alkyl-4-isothiocyanatoterphenyls were described. Influence of the number of fluorine atoms and their position in the terphenyl core on the phase transition temperatures, nematic range, dielectric and optic anisotropy as well as bulk viscosity were discussed. The compounds with the most optimal properties for formulation of nematic mixtures were selected, and mixture examples with low viscosity and medium or high birefringence were presented.     

Alignment of liquid crystals induced by a photopolymerized self‐assembled film

An alignment film derived from a photopolymerized self‐assembled film may be used to orient nematic liquid crystals after irradiating the film with linearly polarized UV (LPUV). A photosensitive cationic amphiphile was first synthesized containing two double bonds and which could be polymerized by UV. A layer‐by‐layer self‐assembled multilayer film was next prepared in an aqueous solution of the cationic amphiphile and poly(sodium 4‐styrenesulphonate); the UV‐Vis spectra showed that each layer of the LBL multilayer film was uniform. When the film was irradiated by LPUV, the photosensitive double bonds underwent [2+2] cycloaddition along the vector direction of LPUV. The polarized UV‐Vis absorption spectra also provided evidence that the film was anisotropic, i.e. the photopolymerization was along a certain direction. The anisotropic film was used as an alignment layer for nematic liquid crystals, and observations under a polarizing microscope indicated that the alignment of the liquid crystals was good, as expected, and that the orientation direction of the liquid crystals was always perpendicular to the electric vector of the irradiating LPUV.     

Synthesis of terminally substituted stilbene-tolane liquid crystals

Methods for synthesizing substituted alkyl and fluoro stilbene-tolane (PTPDP) liquid crystal materials are presented. These compounds show a slightly higher birefringence than the analogous bistolanes, but higher melting points and heats of fusion. Potential applications of these compounds for optical communications and displays are discussed.     

The effect of ethanol on the phase behaviour and micro-rheology of liquid crystals

The effect of ethanol on the phase behaviour and micro-rheology of lyotropic liquid crystals (LC) has been studied using a binary mixture of monoglyceride (MG) and aqueous ethanol. The phase behaviour study reveals the structural modulation of surfactant aggregates with increasing ethanol concentration, namely a bicontinuous cubic phase (Ia3d) transitions to the lamellar phase (L_α), at a fixed MG concentration. This behaviour is explained by considering the critical packing parameter (CPP) of the surfactant molecule. Because ethanol dehydrates the surfactant head group (a _s), the CPP values increase (decreasing a _s) and thus the formation of larger CPP aggregates is favoured (i.e., the Ia3d–L_α transition occurs). Cross-polarised images and X-ray scattering data support this conclusion. The structural modulation of the LC has further been investigated using a diffusing wave spectroscopy technique. The correlation and relaxation times, determined from the intersection point at short and long time scales of the mean square displacement (MSD), decrease with increasing concentrations of ethanol, indicating structural modulation of the LC. The micro-viscoelastic moduli (G′ and G′′) derived from the Laplace transformation of the MSD decrease with increasing ethanol concentrations, due to the LC modulation. The thermal effects on the micro-rheology of the LC have also been studied.     

The synthesis and properties of CaCu3Ti4O12 thin films

The CaCu₃Ti₄O₁₂ (CCTO) thin films were synthesized via a metal‐organic solution containing stoichiometric amounts of the metal cations at 700 °C for 1 h. The stable metal‐organic solution was prepared by dissolving calcium nitrate, copper nitrate, and tetrabuty titanate in grain alcohol. The phases, microstructures, and electric properties of CCTO thin films were characterized by X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscope, and electric measurements. The results show that the CCTO thin films have homogeneous microstructure, smooth surface, low leakage current, and high values of dielectric constant. The low leakage current can be attributed to the small surface roughness. The high value of dielectric constant can be attributed to the internal barrier layer capacitor mechanism and metal‐insulator‐semiconductor junction of CCTO thin films. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Selective switching of individual multipole resonances in single dielectric nanoparticles

Following Mie theory, nanoparticles made of a high‐refractive‐index dielectric, such as silicon, exhibit a resonator‐like behavior and very rich resonance spectra. Which electric or magnetic particle mode is excited depends on the wavelength, the refractive‐index contrast relative to the environment, and the geometry of the nanoparticle itself. In addition, the spatial structure of the impinging light field plays a major role in the excitation of the nanoparticle resonances. Here, it is shown that, by tailoring the excitation field, individual multipole resonances can be selectively addressed while suppressing the excitation of other particle modes. This enables a detailed study of selected individual resonances without interference by the other modes.