Tailoring the physical properties of some high birefringence isothiocyanato-based liquid crystals |
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Authors: | Carmen Otilia Catanescu Shin-Tson Wu Liang-Chy Chien Corresponding author |
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Institution: | 1. Liquid Crystal Institute , Kent State University , Kent, OH 44236, USA;2. School of Optics/CREOL , University of Central Florida , Orlando, FL 32816, USA |
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Abstract: | This paper describes the synthesis and characterization of several liquid crystal compounds having a tolane or terphenyl core structure and a high polarizability, isothiocyanato (NCS), terminal group. The synthesized compounds have high optical birefringerce (0.35 and 0.52), the highest being exhibited by the olefin-tolanes. Several eutectic mixtures are formulated and show improved properties over the single compounds, such as a broad nematic range, low melting temperature and relatively high clearing point. The birefringence of these mixtures is in the range 0.35–0.37. UV, viscosity and electro-optical measurements of the synthesized compounds are also reported. Dipole moment and polarizability calculations were made using CS-MOPAC and Hyperchem software computational programmes. |
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Keywords: | salen copper mesomorphism DFT |
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