Naphthyl azomesogens with lateral chloro groups

A homologous series of azomesogens, 2″-[4-(4′-n-alkoxybenzoyloxy)-2-chlorophenylazo] naphthalenes, with lateral chloro groups was synthesised. All the homologues synthesized exhibit enantiotropic nematic mesophase. The mesomorphic properties of the present series are compared with other structurally related series to evaluate the effect of lateral chloro group and its position on mesomorphism This paper was presented at the 10th National Conference on Liquid Crystals held at Bangalore, India during 9–11 October 2003.     

New liquid‐crystalline poly(ester amide)s: The role of nitro groups in the phase behavior

New hydrogen‐bonded liquid‐crystalline poly(ester amide)s (PEA)s were obtained from 1,4‐terephthaloyl[bis‐(3‐nitro‐N‐anthranilic acid)] (5) or 1,4‐terephthaloyl[bis‐(N‐anthranilic acid)] (6), with or without nitro groups, respectively, through the separate condensation of each with hydroquinone or dihydroxynaphthalene. The dicarboxylic monomers were synthesized from 2‐aminobenzoic acid. The phase behavior of the monomers and polymers were studied with differential scanning calorimetry, polarized light microscopy, and wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction methods. Monomer 5, containing nitro groups, exhibited a smectic liquid‐crystalline phase, whereas the texture of monomer 6 without nitro groups appeared to be nematic. The PEAs containing nitro groups exhibited polymorphism (smectic and nematic), whereas those without nitro groups exhibited only one phase transition (a nematic threaded texture). The changes occurring in the phase behavior of the polymers were explained by the introduction of nitro groups. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 1289–1298, 2004     

Localized bifurcations and defect instabilities in the convection of a nematic liquid crystal

The stationary and the time-dependent homogeneous ordered states in convection may both become unstable against localized perturbations. Defects are then created and they may contribute to the disorganization of the homogeneous state. We present an experimental study of defects in some homogeneous stationary structures as well as in the traveling-wave states of convection of a nematic liquid crystal. We show that the core of the defects is a germ of the unstable state and it can become unstable under the external stress. Then, either fully homogeneous states with the symmetry of the core, or complex disordered states can develop from the local instability of defects in processes quite similar to displacive transitions in solids. Some of the main features are qualitatively similar to numerical simulations of an appropriate Landau-Ginzburg equation.     

COMPENSATION EFFECT OF POLYIMIDE THIN FILMS ON NORMALLY WHITE TWISTED NEMATIC LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAYS

The disadvantages of Normally White Twisted Nematic Liquid Crystal Display (NW-TN-LCD) were discussed. The reason that the negative birefringent polyimide thin filmswere used to compensate NW-TN-LCD to decrease off-axis leakage, improve contrast ratiosand enlarge viewing angles was explained in this paper. A certain polyimide thin film wastaken as an example to show compensation effect on NW-TN-LCD.     

Liquid crystalline ionomers. II. Main chain liquid crystalline polymers with terminal sulfonate groups

Liquid crystalline ionomers containing sulfonate groups on the terminal unit of the chain were synthesized by an interfacial condensation reaction of 4,4′-dihydroxy-α,α′-dimethyl benzalazine, the monofunctional dye fast yellow (FY), and a 50/50 mixture of sebacoyl and dodecanedioyl dichlorides. The weight-average molecular weights were estimated from inherent viscosity measurements to be between 6000–11,000 and the sodium sulfonate concentrations ranged from 0–18.4 meq/100 g polymer. Elemental analyses, however, indicated much higher molecular weights, which suggested that there was a distribution of chains with one, two, or no FY endgroups. The polymers were semicrystalline and melted at ca. 140°C to form nematic mesophases that were stable over a temperature range of ca. 80°C. They were thermally stable to about 350°C. The ionomeric nature of the polymers was confirmed by the presence of intermolecular associations in nonpolar solvents, as demonstrated by dilute solution viscosity measurements.     

Fast spatially localised electrooptical mode in vertically aligned nematic LCs with negative dielectric anisotropy

ABSTRACT

Electro-optical switching and the liquid crystal (LC) director distribution are studied in spatially periodic electric field for vertically aligned LC with negative dielectric anisotropy. Two electro-optical switching modes characterised by different switching times are observed. These modes are well distinguished optically by choosing proper geometry for the polarisers axes orientation. One of these modes is significantly faster as compared to the other. The fast switching is explained in terms of localised near-to-surface director reorientation. The 3D-numerical simulation shows very good agreement with the experiment: it points out the existence of the disclination lines and field-stabilised walls responsible for the localised director field switching and its relaxation. Possibilities of enhancing the fast mode for high-speed light modulators are discussed.     

Fully aromatic thermotropic liquid crystalline polyesters of substituted 4,4′-biphenols. IV. Homopolyesters with terephthalic acid and copolyesters with terephthalic acid and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid

A series of fully aromatic thermotropic polyesters based on mono-, di-, and tetra-substituted biphenols was prepared by the melt polycondensation method and examined for their thermotropic behavior by a variety of experimental techniques. The homopolyesters obtained from substituted biphenols containing either one phenyl or two phenyl groups as substituent(s) and TA formed nematic melts, but the homopolymers of the substituted biphenols containing either four sec-butyl groups or two tert-butyl groups with TA had melting transitions, T_m, above 400°C. Thus, it was not possible to determine whether they formed nematic melts. On copolymerization with 30 mol % HBA most of the resulting copolyesters had much lower T_m values, compared to those of respective homopolyesters, and the copolymers of the biphenol monomer containing the tert-butyl groups formed a nematic melt at an observable temperature. However, the copolymer of the biphenol with sec-butyl groups still had a T_m above 400°C. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

不同光滑度立方体氧化铁对液晶电光性能的改善

向列相液晶被广泛应用于液晶显示中,但是由于杂质的存在,会导致液晶的驱动电压变大,增加能耗。 为了降低阈值电压和饱和电压,通常向液晶中添加纳米颗粒来提高电光性能。 本文利用水热法制备了表面粗糙和光滑的两种立方体Fe₂O₃纳米颗粒,其形貌均匀,尺寸约550 nm。 将二者分别掺杂到向列相液晶E7中,结果表明,粗糙立方体Fe₂O₃/E7复合体系具有比光滑立方体Fe₂O₃/E7复合体系和向列相液晶E7更优的电光性能,且在掺杂质量分数为0.4%时,其电光性能达到最优,阈值电压和饱和电压分别降低9.9%和11.6%,对比度增大80%,响应时间降低至6.0 ms。 这归因于粗糙立方体Fe₂O₃具有足够的表面积和表面所带电荷更多,所以会更易吸附体系中的杂质离子和减弱杂质离子的屏蔽作用,从而提高了电光性能。