Synthesis and Characterization of Canola-Based Cholesteryl Ester and Nematic E7 Mixture

Abstract

The fatty acid of Canola Oil, 61% of which is Oleic acid, was extracted. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometry (FTIR) confirmed the fatty acid extraction. Canola-based Cholesteryl Ester (CANCE) was obtained through esterification. FTIR scans of the CANCE and the fatty acid were compared to verify the complete esterification. The resulting crude product is a yellow wax with some crystals embedded on it. Thin layer chromatography was then performed to determine the appropriate solvent for the column chromatography to purify the crude sample. The purified product was characterized using Optical Polarizing Microscopy and Differential Scanning Calorimetry. Mixtures of the Nematic E7 and CANCE in different ratios were prepared. Transition temperatures of each mixture were determined using differential scanning calorimetry and verified using optical polarizing microscopy.     

Some recent studies of liquid crystals: A review

The following topics are reviewed briefly: (i) The first experimental determination of the decrease in the smectic A-nematic transition temperature brought about by a twist deformation, an effect which is the analog of the influence of a magnetic field on the superconductor-normal metal transition; (ii) the similarity between the hydrodynamics of cholesteric liquid crystals and superfluid hydrodynamics, and some of its consequences, e.g., the possibility of a temperature wave attending second sound in the cholesteric phase; and (iii) the nematicsmectic A-smectic C multicritical point.     

Self-Assembled Multistable Scattering Mode for Versatile Energy-Saving Smart Windows

Smart windows are crucial to dynamic control over light transmission to fulfill various demands in energy saving, privacy, and information display; however, most present technologies still perform a single function (often tint or haze adjustment) and require continuous electricity for operation. In this study, novel self-assembled ionic liquid crystals (ILCs) doped with negative cholesteric liquid crystals (CLCs) to offer electrically switchable and stable scattering-mode light modulators are presented. The novel smectic A phase based on the ILCs exhibits high solubility in the adopted nematics, enhancing the LC device's performance in several ways, including improved homogeneity, stable alignment quality, prolonged stability, and simplified fabrication. The LC device can potentially offer a dynamically rapid switching function between stable transparent (imperfect fingerprint textures) states and stable scattering (focal conic textures with small domains) states by using external stimuli and highly maintained multistable states for prolonged periods, even when the external stimuli are removed. The LC device also offers polarization-independent scattering and transparent-mode LC light modulators, low operating voltage, excellent contrast, and broad viewing angles. Its versatility and outstanding field-off stability make it ideal for various applications such as smart lighting, building climate control, energy-saving displays, and augmented reality (AR) glasses.     

New Simple Model of a Liquid Crystal Light Valve

Abstract

A liquid crystal light valve, using a heterojunction indium oxide/silicon of high resistivity (10,000 Ω.cm) and based on the cholesteric-nematic transition is described. The characteristics of this device are determined: optimum voltage to be applied to the cell in order to produce the cholestericnematic phase change, incident light power sensitivity, spectral response, rise and decay times. It has been shown that this light valve has an incident power sensitivity of less than 10 μW.cm^?2 which passes through a maximum for an incident wavelength of 0.8 μm. This valve can be used in the near infrared; rise times of a few tens of ms are obtained.     

Adiabatic and non-adiabatic corrections to properties of the hydrogen molecular cation and its isotopomers: dissociation energies and bond lengths

A study is presented of adiabatic and non-adiabatic corrections to the dissociation energies and bond lengths of H⁺ ₂, D⁺ ₂ and HD⁺ in vibration-rotation levels of their ground electronic states, with particular attention to isotopic scaling. In previous work (MOSS, R. E., 1999, Molec. Phys., 97, 1) on rotationless levels, an anomalous non-adiabatic correction to the bond length was found for v = 20, N = 0 of HD⁺. Other levels close to dissociation are identified that display anomalous non-adiabatic corrections to the dissociation energies and to the bond lengths. The source of these anomalies is discussed.     

Chiral Gay–Berne model for molecular dynamics computer simulations

Abstract

We have extended the chiral Gay–Berne (GB) pair potential of Memmer and co–workers [Liq. Cryst. (15), 345 (1993)] to the general case of biaxial ellipsoids, and we provide explicit expressions for the gradient and the torques to be used in molecular dynamics (MD) codes. To test our results against published results we have performed MD simulations of samples formed by N?=?1024 uniaxial GB ellipsoids with constant volume, and we have studied how the thermotropic behavior is affected by particle chirality. We have run temperature scans starting from isotropic samples and found clear signatures of the spontaneous formation of both lower temperature blue and cholesteric phases.     

Microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography – or solvent-modified micellar electrokinetic chromatography?

An overview of the microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography technique and its fields of applications in analytical chemistry are given. The separation mechanisms involved are discussed and the technique is compared to solvent-modified micellar electrokinetic chromatography.