Benzoate Liquid Crystals Research Articles

Different morphologies of super-balls obtained to form photonic crystals of cholesteryl benzoate liquid crystals.

The current study highlights the synthesis and characterization of some nanocomposite materials formed by polymer particles and liquid crystals. The liquid crystals used were cholesteryl benzoate (CLB), and the particles were synthesized by emulsion polymerization in the absence of the emulsifier. Through SEM and DLS analysis, the synthesis of particles of the same size was emphasized, and the amount of CLB showed no influence on these parameters. The lack of signal for CLB in the case of DSC and XRD analyses for the sample with the smallest amount of liquid crystal is attributed to the detection limits of the devices. To complete the surface characterization of the particles, XPS analysis was performed. Through XPS it was underlined that in the case of the smallest amount and the largest amount of CLB, respectively, it is encapsulated in the polymer particles, unlike the case of the average amount used, in which core-shell type morphologies have been obtained. For the electrical characterization of the samples, a Vector Network Analyzer (VNA) connected to two rectangular X-band (i.e., 8.2-12.4 GHz) waveguides through coaxial cables was used.

Phase transition and birefringence studies on some ferroelectric liquid crystals

In the present studies the homologous series of hydroxy phenylamino methyl phenoxy benzoate liquid crystals (n = 8,9 and m = 6) are used. The temperature variation of density is measured. Using density data the phase variants in the compounds are identified. All the compounds exhibit first-order phase transitions. By Newton rings method the birefringence is measured directly in smectic and nematic phases. The advantages of the newton ring technique are presented over the conventional methods for the determination of orientational order parameter. The orientational order parameter attained by the newton rings scheme is equated through the literature data, the results are discussed.

Molecular dynamics of alkyl benzoate liquid crystals in the bulk state and in the surface layer of their composites with oxide nanopowders

This paper presents the results concerning monotropic nematic liquid crystals 4-pentylphenyl 4′-alkyl benzoate (5PnB) (n = 3 or 5 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain). Their mesophase properties were supported by images of the polarized optical microscopy. Molecular dynamics in the bulk samples or in the composites prepared with aerosil A380 was investigated by broadband dielectric spectroscopy in a large temperature range, appropriately chosen. Thermo gravimetric and infrared investigations were additionally performed. The data were compared with those of structurally related nematics like cyanophenyl pentyl benzoates, which have a cyan group instead of the pentyl chain. The dielectric spectra of the bulk 3P5B and 5P5B demonstrate a dielectric behavior with several relaxation processes as expected for nematic liquid crystals. The temperature dependence of the relaxation rates (and of the dielectric strength) seems to have two distinguished regimes. Thus, in the isotropic state, at higher temperatures the data obey the Vogel–Fulcher–Tammann law, whereas an Arrhenius law is fitted at lower temperature, in a close similarity to the behavior of a constrained dynamic glass transition. Samples with a high density of silica (larger than 7 g aerosil/1 g of 5PnB) were prepared to observe a thin layer adsorbed on the particle surface; it was estimated that almost each guest 5PnB molecule interacts with the aerosil surface. For the composites only one main relaxation process is observed at frequencies much lower than those for the corresponding bulk, which was assigned to the dynamics of the molecules in the surface layer. Infrared spectroscopy shows that these molecules interact with the surface by the ester carbonyl group leading to the monolayer self-assembly at liquid–solid interface. We note once more the importance of the functional unit(s) for the interaction with the hydroxyl groups on the aerosil surface.

Synthesis and characterization of novel 4-benzyloxyphenyl 4-[4-(n-dodecyloxy)benzoyloxy]benzoate liquid crystal.

Liquid crystal (LC) compound 4-Benzyloxyphenyl 4-[4-( n -dodecyloxy)benzoyloxy]benzoate (BDBB) was prepared and characterized. Inverse gas chromatography (IGC) was to be a beneficial analysis method for the research of thermodynamic characteristics of the new LC. Acetate and alcohol isomers were used to examine LC selectivity via the IGC technique at temperatures between 333.2 K and 483.2 K. The retention diagrams of n -heptane, n -octane, n -nonane, n -decane, undecane, dodecane, tridecane, n -butyl acetate, isobutyl acetate, ethyl acetate, n -propylbenzene, isopropylbenzene, ethylbenzene, chlorobenzene, and toluene on BDBB were plotted with temperatures of 483.2–493.2 K. Flory–Huggins interaction parameter and weight fraction activity coefficient at infinite dilution were researched for BDBB.

The Synthesis of New Thermal Stable Schiff Base/Ester Liquid Crystals: A Computational, Mesomorphic, and Optical Study.

A Schiff base supramolecular 4-[(4-(hexyloxy)phenylimino)methyl]benzoic acid and a new series of Schiff base/ester linkages named 4-substitutedphenyl 4-[(4-(hexyloxy)phenylimino)methyl]benzoate liquid crystals were synthesized. The thermal stability, mesomorphic, and optical behavior of the prepared compounds were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Thermogravemetric analysis (TGA), polarized optical microscopy (POM), and UV spectroscopy. FT-IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and elemental analyses were carried out to elucidate and confirm the molecular structures of the synthesized compounds. The investigated series comprising different sized terminal polar groups changed between CH(CH3)2, H, I, and F. It was found that the supramolecular imino acid dimer is enantiotropic dimorphic, with a wide SmA phase and a good N phase range. The other series of terminally substituted Schiff base/esters are mesomorphic with a high thermal stable SmA phase, except the iodo derivative, which showed dimorphic SmA and N phases. The effect of the position and the orientation of the cores, as well as the terminal substituent of the type and the stability of the mesophase, were studied. A computational theoretical study of the effects of the van der Waal’s volume, the Hammett substituent coefficient, the inductive sigma constant, and other geometrical parameters were discussed. The study revealed that the planarity of the two phenyl rings attached with an imino linking group impacted the resonance effect of the terminal substituents rather than their inductive effect. A detailed study on the effect of the estimated thermal parameters, as well as their geometrical planarity with the type and stability of the formed mesophase, was discussed.

Optical Properties and Phase Transition Measurements of Oriented Difluorophenylazophenyl Benzoate Liquid Crystal

Optical Properties and Phase Transition Measurements of Oriented Difluorophenylazophenyl Benzoate Liquid Crystal

Synthesis and mesomorphic properties of liquid crystals containing a perfluorinated segment via different linkers

This study presents the synthesis and mesomorphic properties of a series of biphenyl benzoate liquid crystals carrying a perfluorinated segment, via three uncommon flexible linkers. In particular, a (E)-2-propenyloxy linker was used which was issued from an elegant regioselective dehydrohalogenation reaction. The remarkable microsegregation effect of the perfluorinated segment, led to the formation of highly stable untilted smectic mesophases. For all mesophases, the molecular packing corresponds to a monolayer arrangement of the mesogenic parts and a partial intercalation of the perfluorinated chains, measured by a intercalation ratio parameter τF. Geometrical calculations based on Xrays data led to τF comprised between 1.48 and 1.68 depending of the mesophase and temperature.

Benzoate liquid crystals with direct isotropic–smectic transition and antipathogenic activity

A smectogen liquid crystal based on benzoate units has been synthesized and structurally characterized by FTIR and 1 H NMR spectroscopy. Besides, its structure and supramolecular arrangement in the crystalline state was demonstrated by single crystal X-ray diffraction measurements. The thermotropic behaviour, monitored by differential scanning calorimetry and polarized light microscopy, consists in the formation of an enantiotropic smectic mesophase with a direct first order transition from the isotropic to smectic mesophase, and with its thermal stability range superposed on human body temperature. The smectogen liquid crystal has moderate wettability – suitable for biocompatible materials and presents good antipathogenic activity against gram positive and gram negative bacteria and fungus. All these properties recommend the understudied liquid crystal to be used in biochemical and biological applications.

Dielectric properties and molecular motions of liquid crystal molecules in 4-(2-methylbytyl)phenyl 4-(4-octylphenyl)benzoate liquid crystal having blue phase (CE8)

Abstract Blue phase liquid crystals exhibit unique properties which are used in the new type of display. A blue-phase liquid crystal display was first presented commercially by Samsung in 2007. The blue-phase-three-color pixel display eliminates the need for color filters. This type of display uses blue-phase multi-component liquid crystal. Considering the one-component systems, it turns out that they are stable only in a very narrow range of temperatures between the isotropic and the chiral nematic phase (about 1 K). In 2005, a wide temperature range BP multi-component system was reported by researchers from the University of Cambridge. There are still several unsolved problems left. One of them is chemical stability and reliability. Therefore, the knowledge of molecular dynamics of blue phase liquid crystal is a prerequisite for understanding of blue-phase multi-component system. Understanding the molecular dynamics of a single component liquid-crystalline blue phase system can facilitate the solution of these problems. We present the molecular dynamics investigation of 4-(2-methylbytyl)phenyl 4-(4-octylphenyl)benzoate (CE8), which may be a good candidate to form materials suitable for blue-phase liquid crystal displays.

Probing the pore structure of a chiral periodic mesoporous organosilica using liquid crystals

Periodic mesoporous organosilicas (PMO) are prepared by the surfactant-templated condensation of bridged organosilsesquioxane monomers. By controlling the nature of the organic segment, the type of surfactant and the condensation conditions, one can control the physical and chemical properties of the resulting PMO and produce highly ordered porous structures with a periodicity on the nanometer scale. The development of chiral PMO materials has been of significant interest given their potential in heterogeneous asymmetric catalysis, chiral chromatography and non-linear optics. Characterization of the chirality of pore structures in these materials thus far has been achieved by indirect methods including polarimetry and solid-state circular dichroism. We report herein a general and convenient approach to probe directly the pore structure of chiral PMO materials based on their interactions with inexpensive liquid crystalline solvents, which result in the induction of measurable chiral properties in the nematic (N) and smectic A (SmA) phases of the liquid crystals. The templated co-condensation of a biphenylene organosilsesquioxane monomer and a chiral binaphthyl organosilsesquioxane monomer produced a new chiral PMO material that was investigated as dopant in two different liquid crystal hosts. Measurements of induced circular dichroism and helical pitch in the nematic phase of the cyanobiphenyl liquid crystal 5CB, and the measurement of an induced electroclinic effect in the SmA phase of the phenyl benzoate liquid crystal 9OO4 were carried out. The induced chiral properties measured in these experiments are consistent with chirality transfer taking place inside the pores, and suggest that the inner structure of the pores in the PMO material is indeed chiral.

Effect of dipole moment and conformation on the mesophase behavior of di-laterally substituted phenylazophenyl benzoate liquid crystals

The dipole moments of the previously prepared 4-(3′-fluoro phenylazo)-2-(or 3-) substituted phenyl-4′′-alkoxybenzoates ( I n a–d), have been determined in benzene at 30 °C. The data obtained were compared with those theoretically calculated by molecular modeling program to deduce the most probable conformations for each individual homologous series. Probable conformations deduced were found to vary according to type and position of the lateral substituent attached to the central benzene ring. The results were used to correlate the mesophase behavior, in pure and mixed derivatives, with the conformation deduced for each series. Each homologous series, that have in common a lateral fluorine atom on the first terminal ring, differs from the other by a second lateral group substituted on the central ring. The latter group varies between 2-CH 3, 3-CH 3, 2-Cl and 3-CN groups. Within each homologous series, the number of carbons in the other terminal alkoxy group varies between 8 and 16 carbons. The study aims to investigate the steric effect of the spatial orientation of the central lateral substituent, based on deduced conformations, on the mesomorphic properties in their pure or mixed states. The mesophase behavior was investigated via differential scanning calorimetry, DSC, and mesophases identified by polarized light microscopy, PLM.

Synthesis and mesomorphic properties of resorcyl di[4-(4-alkoxy-2,3-diflorophenyl)ethynyl] benzoate liquid crystals

Two resorcyl di[4-(4-alkoxy-2,3-difluorophenyl)ethynyl] benzoate liquid crystals (A10 and A12) were prepared and their mesomorphic properties were observed. A large polarisation value was obtained with longer terminal chains.

Synthesis and mesomorphic properties of four-ring liquid crystals containing cyclohexyl, phenyl and pyridyl units

Two series of chiral and achiral 4-[(3-n-alkoxycarbonylpyridyl)-6-ethynyl]phenyl 4-(trans-4-n-alkylcyclohexyl)benzoate liquid crystals have been synthesized. Their mesomorphic properties were observed and measured by polarizing optical microscopy and DSC. A broad chiral smectic C phase was observed when terminal chains contained a chiral centre.

Synthesis and Mesomorphic Properties of Some Fluorinated Benzoate Liquid Crystals

Three series of [4-(4′- n -alkyloxyphenyl)accetylenyl]-2,6-diffuorophenyl fluorinated benezoates and one series of fluorinated benzoates with 2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenylene group and semi-perfluorocarbon chain have been synthesized. Their phase transition temperatures have been measured by texture observation in a polarizing microscope and confirmed by DSC. For the series without fluorocarbon chains, increasing the quantity of fluorosubstituents on the terminal phenyl groups decreased nematic stability ( T N-I ), but the breadth of the SmA phase range was increased. Lateral fluorosubstitution in the central group lowered the nematic stability ( T N-I ) and decreased the breadth of the SmA phase range. The series with semiperfluorocarbon chains were more likely to form SmA phases than the series with hydrogencarbon chains, and with the increasing of fluorosubstituents quantity on the terminal phenyl groups nematic and SmA stability ( T N-I and ( T SmA-N ) were both decreased.

Synthesis and mesomorphic properties of resorcyl di[4-(4-alkoxy-2,3-difluorophenyl)ethynyl]benzoate: a novel achiral antiferroelectric banana-shaped mesogen

Two resorcyl di[4-(4-alkoxy-2,3-difluorophenyl)ethynyl]benzoate liquid crystals were prepared and their mesomorphic properties observed and measured. Achiral antiferroelectric phases were seen with increasing length of the hydrocarbon terminal chains.

Synthesis and mesomorphic properties of 4-[(4-n-polyfluoroalkoxy-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenyl)ethynyl]phenyl fluoro-substituted benzoates

A series of 4-[(4-n-polyfluoroalkoxy-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenyl)ethynyl]phenyl fluoro-substituted benzoate liquid crystals have been synthesized. Their phase transition temperatures have been measured by optical polarizing microscopy and confirmed by DSC. The results show that a highly fluorinated terminal chain impairs mesomorphic properties.

Synthesis and Mesomorphic Properties of Some Fluoro-Substituted Benzoates

Several series of fluoro-substituted benzoate liquid crystals have been synthesized. The results showed that the SmA phase is enhanced with the increasing of the degree of fluoro-substitution on the para- and meta-postion of the terminal phenyl groups. And the molecules which have same molecular structural formula show nearly the same melting points. It is also discussed about the effect of the ester bond′s direction on the mesomorphic properties.

Dielectric and pyroelectric studies of an antiferroelectric liquid crystal

Polymorphism and polar properties of an antiferroelectric (R)-2-methylheptyloxycarbonylphenyl-4-[(4-decyloxy-3-fluoro)benzoyloxy]benzoate liquid crystal are studied. The phases are identified, and the phase transition points are determined. Dielectric constant, dielectric losses, and pyroelectric properties are studied for the orthogonal smectic SmA and tilted smectic, SmCα*, SmC*, SmCγ*, and SmCA* phases. The temperature dependence of spontaneous polarization is measured by the repolarization current technique and integration of the pyroelectric constant.

DSC studies on p-cyanophenyl p-( n-alkyl)benzoate liquid crystals: evidence for polymorphism and conformational change

Temperatures and enthalpy changes are reported for the melting, clearing, and nematic-to-solid transition of the p-cyanophenyl p-( n-alkyl)benzoate (RCBz) liquid crystals. The results reveal that several solid structures exist for the RCBzs. Evidence that the transitions between the various solid forms involve conformational changes is provided by exotherms and endotherms appearing in heating and cooling cycles, respectively. The study also demonstrates that as long as melted RCBzs are not allowed to solidify they undergo repeated, reversible nematic-to-isotropic and isotropic-to-nematic transitions making them suitable for use in liquid crystal displays (LCD).

Electron Paramagnetic Resonance and ab Initio Structural Studies on Liquid Crystalline Systems

Electron paramagnetic resonance studies, using PD-Tempone as a probe, on the n-hexyl and n-heptyl members of the p-cyanophenyl p-(n-alkyl)benzoate (RCBz) liquid crystals confirm the previously observed directions of the discontinuities in the a and g-factor values on solidification and on melting of the 6CB liquid crystal. Careful analysis of an unusual variation in the g-factor value on cooling and heating in the vicinity of the nematic-to-isotropic transition points to the existence of molecular change alongside the bulk change. Evidence for such changes is provided by the results of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements and ab initio calculations using the STO-3G basis set. DSC endothermic peaks on cooling (or exothermic peaks on heating) that are independent of cooling (or heating) rates reflect a conformational change. DSC also shows the existence of polymorphic solid that, on heating, undergoes a series of rate-dependent solid−solid modifications until the most stable solid form is re...