Temperature-dependent Wide-angle X-ray Research Articles

Ion Transport in 2D Nanostructured π-Conjugated Thieno[3,2-b]thiophene-Based Liquid Crystal.

Leveraging the self-assembling behavior of liquid crystals designed for controlling ion transport is of both fundamental and technological significance. Here, we have designed and prepared a liquid crystal that contains 2,5-bis(thien-2-yl)thieno[3,2-b]thiophene (BTTT) as mesogenic core and conjugated segment and symmetric tetra(ethylene oxide) (EO4) as polar side chains for ion-conducting regions. Driven by the crystallization of the BTTT cores, BTTT/dEO4 exhibits well-ordered smectic phases below 71.5 °C as confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry, polarized optical microscopy, temperature-dependent wide-angle X-ray scattering, and grazing incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering (GIWAXS). We adopted a combination of experimental GIWAXS and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to better understand the molecular packing of BTTT/dEO4 films, particularly when loaded with the ion-conducting salt lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI). Ionic conduction of BTTT/dEO4 is realized by the addition of LiTFSI, with the material able to maintain smectic phases up to r = [Li+]/[EO] = 0.1. The highest ionic conductivity of 8 × 10-3 S/cm was attained at an intermedium salt concentration of r = 0.05. It was also found that ion conduction in BTTT/dEO4 is enhanced by forming a smectic layered structure with irregular interfaces between the BTTT and EO4 layers and by the lateral film expansion upon salt addition. This can be explained by the enhancement of the misalignment and configurational entropy of the side chains, which increase their local mobility and that of the solvated ions. Our molecular design thus illustrates how, beyond the favorable energetic interactions that drive the assembly of ion solvating domains, modulation of entropic effects can also be favorably harnessed to improve ion conduction.

Charge versus Energy Transfer Effects in High-Performance Perylene Diimide Photovoltaic Blend Films.

Perylene diimide (PDI)-based organic photovoltaic devices can potentially deliver high power conversion efficiency values provided the photon energy absorbed is utilized efficiently in charge transfer (CT) reactions instead of being consumed in nonradiative energy transfer (ET) steps. Hitherto, it remains unclear whether ET or CT primarily drives the photoluminescence (PL) quenching of the PDI excimer state in PDI-based blend films. Here, we affirm the key role of the thermally assisted PDI excimer diffusion and subsequent CT reaction in the process of PDI excimer PL deactivation. For our study we perform PL quenching experiments in the model PDI-based composite made of poly[4,8-bis(5-(2-ethylhexyl)thiophen-2-yl)benzo[1,2-b;4,5-b']dithiophene-2,6-diyl-alt-(4-(2-ethylhexanoyl)-thieno[3,4-b]thiophene)-2-6-diyl] (PBDTTT-CT) polymeric donor mixed with the N,N'-bis(1-ethylpropyl)-perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic diimide (PDI) acceptor. Despite the strong spectral overlap between the PDI excimer PL emission and UV-vis absorption of PBDTTT-CT, two main observations indicate that no significant ET component operates in the overall PL quenching: the PL intensity of the PDI excimer (i) increases with decreasing temperature and (ii) remains unaffected even in the presence of 10 wt % content of the PBDTTT-CT quencher. Temperature-dependent wide-angle X-ray scattering experiments further indicate that nonradiative resonance ET is highly improbable due to the large size of PDI domains. The dominance of the CT over the ET process is verified by the high performance of devices with an optimum composition of 30:70 PBDTTT-CT:PDI. By adding 0.4 vol % of 1,8-diiodooctane we verify the plasticization of the polymer side chains that balances the charge transport properties of the PBDTTT-CT:PDI composite and results in additional improvement in the device efficiency. The temperature-dependent spectral width of the PDI excimer PL band suggests the presence of energetic disorder in the PDI excimer excited state manifold.

Relationship between the Microstructure Development and the Photoluminescence Efficiency of Electrospun Poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene-2,7-diyl) Fibers

In this work, we established the relationship between the thermally induced microstructure development and the photoluminescence efficiency (Ep) of the poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene) (PF8) fibers prepared from the semidilute PF8/chloroform solutions by direct electrospinning. The as-spun (AS) fibers were found to be composed of an amorphous phase and a significant fraction of mesomorphic β-phase, which may promote the Ep of PF8. The temperature-dependent wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) measurement revealed that the PF8 fibers exhibited complex structural transformation on heating from the AS state, and there existed a strong correlation between Ep and the microstructure developed. The AS fibers exhibited the highest Ep value. The Ep decreased progressively on heating at temperatures below the cold crystallization temperature (Tcc), where the microstructure remained unperturbed. The β-phase transformed to γ- or α′-phase (Cγ-/Cα′-crystals) above Tcc, and such a structural transformation led to a reduction of ...

Heterocyclic and aromatic based polyurethane scaffolds: morphology and crystallinity studied by X-ray diffraction, small-angle X-ray scattering and differential scanning calorimetry

The morphology, crystallinity and X-ray diffraction of speciality heterocyclic and aromatic based polyurethane and poly(urethane–urea) elastomers synthesized via a one-shot polymerization method were studied. The samples were chain extended by mixtures of aliphatic diols and furanic or aromatic diamine chain extenders. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements confirmed the results obtained by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and revealed the presence of phases with sharp phase boundaries. The SAXS patterns are best fitted with a model that consists of liquid-like ordered polydisperse spheres. Most of the samples were shown to be poorly crystalline, but some soft-phase crystals do exist and these melted at about 353 K as confirmed by DSC and temperature-dependent wide-angle X-ray diffraction. Annealing at 273 K did not affect the thermal stability but influenced the morphology of the samples. The effect of annealing on the samples of poly(urethane–urea) extended using diamine chain extenders was smaller than that for polyurethane samples, which indicates a much higher thermal stability of the poly(urethane–urea) samples owing to the formation of bidentate hydrogen-bond networks across the urea groups.

Discotic liquid crystals of transition metal complexes 46: mesomorphism and antagonist solubility of octaphenoxy-phthalocyaninato copper(II) complex substituted by oligoether chains

We synthesized a novel discotic liquid crystalline compound, octakis[3-(2-(2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethoxy)phenoxy]phthalocyaninato copper(II) (abbreviated as [m- MeO(EtO)3PhO]8PcCu ), and established the mesomorphism by using a differential scanning calorimeter, a polarizing optical microscope, and temperature-dependent wide angle X-ray diffraction diffractometer. Very interestingly, this [m- MeO(EtO)3PhO]8PcCu complex showed a hexagonal ordered columnar (Colho) mesophase in the virgin sample, whereas it showed a rectangular ordered columnar (Colro(P21/a)) mesophase in the non-virgin sample. The Colho mesophase gave a dimer stacking distance at 9.26 Å, whereas the Colro mesophase gave a short monomer stacking distance at 3.45 Å. Furthermore, this novel Pc derivative is readily soluble in polar solvents such as acetone, ethanol and methanol. Using antagonist solubilities of the present hydrophilic [m- MeO(EtO)3PhO]8PcCu derivative in a polar solvent and the previous hydrophobic (C10O)16TzCu derivative in the non-polar solvent, a p-n junction layered thin films could be successfully prepared.

Discotic liquid crystals of transition metal complexes 45: parity effect of the number of d-electrons on stacking distances in the columnar mesophases of octakis-(m-alkoxyphenoxy)phthalocyaninato metal(II) complexes

We have synthesized 34 novel homologous discotic liquid crystals, octakis(m-alkoxyphenoxy)phthalocyaninato metal(II) {abbreviated as (m- CnOPhO)8PcM (M = Co(1), Ni(2), Cu(3), Zn(4) and H2 (5); n = 8(a), 10(b), 12(c), 14(d), 16(e), 18(f) and 20(g))}, and investigated parity effect of the number of d-electrons on the stacking distances in their columnar mesophases. It was revealed from temperature-dependent wide angle X-ray diffraction studies that each of the cobalt(II) (d7) complexes (1a–1g) and the copper(II) (d9) complexes (3b–3g) showed a single hexagonal ordered columnar (Colho) mesophase with a very short stacking distance at 3.3 Å, and that the nickel(II) (d8) complexes (2a–2g) and the metal-free (d0) derivatives (5a–5g) showed a single pseudo-hexagonal ordered columnar (Colrho) mesophase with a little bit longer stacking distances at 3.4 Å. Very interestingly, the nickel complex (2a) and metal-free derivatives (5a–5c) gave an extremely big (001) reflection peak with the second (002) reflection peak. Furthermore, the zinc(II) (d10) complexes (4a–4g) showed two different rectangular ordered columnar mesophases, Colro(P2/m) and Colro(P21/a), with a little bit longer stacking distance at 3.4 Å. Thus, the shorter stacking distance, 3.3 Å, appeared for the odd number of d-electrons, whereas the longer stacking distance, 3.4 Å, appeared for the even number of d-electrons. Hence, the stacking distances depend on parity of the number of d-electrons in the central metal(II). To our best knowledge, it is the first example of parity effect on the stacking distances in columnar mesophases.

Helical Packing of Discotic Hexaphenyl Hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronenes: Theory and Experiment

The arrangement of discotic hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronenes (HBCs) into columnar helical superstructures has been investigated in relation to their molecular architecture. The supramolecular structure of two hexaphenyl-substituted HBC derivatives, differing only in the chiral/achiral nature of the attached alkyl side chains, was studied by circular dichroism and temperature-dependent wide-angle X-ray diffraction on oriented filaments. A structural model in agreement with the experimental observations was developed on the basis of accompanying quantum-chemical calculations. The helical organization along the self-assembled columnar structures was induced by the steric requirements of the bulky phenyl rings near the aromatic core, i.e., by their rotation out-of-plane with respect to the aromatic core. On the other hand, a uniform handedness of the twist was generated by chiral alkyl substituents. At higher temperatures the degree of helical organization decreases due to lateral and longitudinal dynamics of the discotic molecules. Annealing at ambient conditions improved the long-range arrangement of the discs along the columnar structures. This reorganization indicated a self-healing of the plastic material which is desirable for application of discotics as active layers in electronic devices. The helical packing resulted in a considerable stability of the mesophase up to 500 degrees C, which has not been reported for a discotic so far.

Investigation on the Brill transition of polyamide 618

The Brill transition of even-even polyamide 618 was investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), temperature-dependent wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR). The X-ray diffraction results indicate that the melt-crystallized sample of polyamide 618 transforms from the triclinic unit cell to the pseudo-hexagonal phase in the range of 120–180°C. In this range, the thermograph of polyamide 618 presents a broad endothermal peak. From the FTIR spectra, it was found that during the transition process of polyamide 618, the intensity of the intra-sheet hydrogen bonds becomes weak. At the same time, the CH2-amide bonds twist, and the all-trans conformation of methylene sequences is disordered by inserting the gauche conformation. The CH2 segments are in a mobile state because of the enhanced stretching and twisting vibrations of the C-CO and C-N bonds.

Temperature dependent wide angle X-ray diffraction studies on the crystalline transition in water saturated and dry polyamide 6/66 copolymer

The crystalline transition in water saturated and dry polyamide 6/66 copolymer (ratio 4:1 by mol) was investigated by means of temperature dependent wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD). The polyamide 6/66 copolymer (PA6/66) exhibits a poorly developed α-phase at room temperature after being cooled down from the melt. Uptake of water improves the crystalline structure by mobilizing the amorphous phase, thus facilitating chain relaxation in the crystalline phase. Upon heating, the effect of the glass transition on the change of the crystal lattice constants is seen. Further heating leads to a gradual crystalline transition from the α-phase to a pseudohexagonal phase. Different from the behavior in polyamide 6, this pseudohexagonal phase does not further transform to a high temperature α′-phase before melting. The delay of the crystalline transition in the water saturated PA6/66––as compared to the dry material can be understood as a result of the better ordered crystalline structure in it.

Influence of moisture on the viscoelastic relaxations in long aliphatic chain contained semiaromatic polyamide, (PA9-T) fiber

The effect of moisture on the mechanical relaxation processes of semiaromatic semicrystalline polyamides synthesized by a long-chain aliphatic diamine and terephthalic acid was investigated by dynamic viscoelastic analysis (DVA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Moreover, the implication of moisture with the amorphous and crystalline domains was also examined by temperature-dependent wide-angle X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectra. The characteristics of the relaxations such as α, β, γ, and the pronounced peak shoulder appeared at 25–100 °C in DVA tan δ curves were found to be strongly susceptible to the presence of moisture. With moisture evaporation, the peak shoulder of 25–100 °C and the β-relaxation disappeared. The former is anticipated to originate from to the side group motion of hydrogen-bonded water, whereas the later one is from the motions of the amide–water complex units. With the disappearance of the β-relaxation, the γ-relaxation appeared simultaneously in much lower temperatures and ultimately coupled with the δ-relaxation. The γ-relaxation is attributed to be associated with the molecular motion of the amide group and δ-relaxation with for the motion of the methylene units. The existence of two types of water was identified in the polymer, namely, tightly bound and loosely bound. The tightly bound water is believed to be directly connected by hydrogen bonding with the strong polar groups and the loosely bound water weakly links with those connected water making hydrogen bridges. The moisture acts as a plasticizer in the polymer matrix, which causes quite a large depression in its glass transition temperature (Tg). WAXD and FTIR studies corroborated the existence of water solely in amorphous regions, i.e., no rapport of water with the crystalline parts. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 2878–2891, 2003

Crystalline structure of poly(methyl-n-propylsilane)

The thermal behavior and physical structure of atactic poly(methyl-n-propylsilane) (PMPrS) have been investigated by complementary techniques. Temperature-dependent wide-angle X-ray scattering as well as thermal analysis clearly indicate that atactic PMPrS crystallizes below 40°C in a monoclinic lattice with PMPrS adopting an all-trans planar zigzag conformation. Above 40°C, the polymer is in the isotropic amorphous state. A restricted analysis of the structure factors of PMPrS has been performed, indicating that the zigzag planes most probably lie in (110) planes. The chains pack with little interpenetration, and the crystals may be considered as bundles of long, closely packed prisms. The restricted interlocking of neighboring chains results, in turn, in a poor register of the chains along the c-axis. Moreover, transmission electron microscopy reveals that the crystallized polymer adopts a lamellar microstructure, with parallel lamellae tending to form tight bundles. Both electron microscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering indicate crystal thicknesses of about 60 Å. Finally, PMPrS was found to crystallize with a nucleation-controlled type of kinetics. Avrami exponents were calculated as n ≈ 1, suggesting a fibrillar growth geometry compatible with the absence of spherulitic superstructure. A double-melting behavior is also observed for PMPrS. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 35: 1533–1543, 1997

Crystalline structure of poly(methyl‐n‐propylsilane)

The thermal behavior and physical structure of atactic poly(methyl-n-propylsilane) (PMPrS) have been investigated by complementary techniques. Temperature-dependent wide-angle X-ray scattering as well as thermal analysis clearly indicate that atactic PMPrS crystallizes below 40°C in a monoclinic lattice with PMPrS adopting an all-trans planar zigzag conformation. Above 40°C, the polymer is in the isotropic amorphous state. A restricted analysis of the structure factors of PMPrS has been performed, indicating that the zigzag planes most probably lie in (110) planes. The chains pack with little interpenetration, and the crystals may be considered as bundles of long, closely packed prisms. The restricted interlocking of neighboring chains results, in turn, in a poor register of the chains along the c-axis. Moreover, transmission electron microscopy reveals that the crystallized polymer adopts a lamellar microstructure, with parallel lamellae tending to form tight bundles. Both electron microscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering indicate crystal thicknesses of about 60 Å. Finally, PMPrS was found to crystallize with a nucleation-controlled type of kinetics. Avrami exponents were calculated as n ≈ 1, suggesting a fibrillar growth geometry compatible with the absence of spherulitic superstructure. A double-melting behavior is also observed for PMPrS. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 35: 1533–1543, 1997