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Alignment of liquid crystals using Langmuir?Blodgett films of unsymmetrical bent-core liquid crystals
摘要： The properties of the thin films of liquid crystal (LC) molecules can be governed easily by external fields. The anisotropic structure of the LC molecules has a large impact on the electrical and optical properties of the film. The Langmuir monolayer (LM) of LC molecules at the air–water interface is known to exhibit a variety of surface phases which can be transferred onto a solid substrate using the Langmuir?Blodgett (LB) technique. Here, we have studied the LM and LB films of asymmetrically substituted bent-core LC molecules. The morphology of LB film of the molecules is found to be a controlling parameter for aligning bulk LC in the nematic phase. It was found that the LB films of the bent-core molecules possessing defects favour the planar orientation of nematic LC, whereas the LB films with fewer defects show homeotropic alignment. The defect in LB films may introduce splay or bend distortions in the nematic near the alignment layer which can govern the planar alignment of the bulk LC. The uniform layer of LB film facilitates the molecules of nematic to anchor vertically due to a strong van der Waals interaction between the aliphatic chains leading to a homeotropic alignment.
关键词： field emission scanning electron microscope,atomic force microscope,Langmuir?Blodgett film,liquid crystals,Brewster angle microscopy,Langmuir monolayer
更新于2025-11-21 11:01:37
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Assembly structure and free energy change of a chromonic liquid crystal formed by a perylene dye
摘要： The nematic (chromonic N) and isotropic phases formed by aqueous solutions of a perylene dye are investigated by x-ray diffraction and visible light absorption spectroscopy. X-ray diffraction shows that the molecules assemble into columns one molecule wide. The change in the visible absorption spectrum with concentration indicates that the molecules stack in a more or less isodesmic manner and that the free energy change associated with the addition or removal of a single molecule from a stack is 16–20 kBT. This range is appreciably higher than those of any previously-measured simple chromonic systems, i.e. those with single molecule-wide columns. It is suggested that the large free energy change promotes the formation of extremely long columns of molecules, and in turn leads to the low concentration at which mesophase formation takes place.
关键词： chromonic,isodesmic,scission energy,perylene dye,assembly structure,lyotropic chromonic,Liquid crystals
更新于2025-11-19 16:56:35
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High dielectric polymer and its application on electro-optical Kerr effect of blue phase liquid crystal
摘要： We present a high-dielectric polymer with a lateral ?uorine group, and its dielectric constant exhibits larger than 20 at 1 kHz. This well-soluble polymer can solely stabilize blue phase liquid crystals (BPLCs) while reducing the operating voltage by 30% and increasing the Kerr constant by nearly 70.6%. The in?uence of the polymer’s dielectric property on the operating voltage is investigated based on the potential distribution. The theoretical result predicts that the operation voltage can be further reduced by 50% when the dielectric constant of the chiral dopant is the same as the high-dielectric polymer. The potential application of high-dielectric materials for the improvement of BPLC devices is foreseeable.
关键词： Kerr constant,blue phase liquid crystals,high-dielectric polymer,electro-optical Kerr effect,operating voltage
更新于2025-11-14 17:28:48
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Electro-Thermal Formation of Uniform Lying Helix Alignment in a Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Cell
摘要： We demonstrated previously that the temperature of a sandwich-type liquid crystal cell with unignorable electrode resistivity could be electrically increased as a result of dielectric heating. In this study, we take advantage of such an electro-thermal effect and report on a unique electric-field approach to the formation of uniform lying helix (ULH) texture in a cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) cell. The technique entails a hybrid voltage pulse at frequencies f1 and, subsequently, f2, which are higher and lower than the onset frequency for the induction of dielectric heating, respectively. When the cell is electrically sustained in the isotropic phase by the voltage pulse of V = 35 Vrms at f1 = 55 kHz or in the homeotropic state with the enhanced ionic effect at V = 30 Vrms and f1 = 55 kHz, our results indicate that switching of the voltage frequency from f1 to f2 enables the succeeding formation of well-aligned ULH during either the isotropic-to-CLC phase transition at f2 = 1 kHz or by the electrohydrodynamic effect at f2 = 30 Hz. For practical use, the aligning technique proposed for the first time in this study is more applicable than existing alternatives in that the obtained ULH is adoptable to CLCs with positive dielectric anisotropy in a simple cell geometry where complicated surface pretreatment is not required. Moreover, it is electrically switchable to other CLC textures such as Grandjean planar and focal conic states without the need of a temperature controller for the phase transition, the use of ion-rich LC materials, or mechanical shearing for textural transition.
关键词： cholesteric liquid crystals,uniform lying helix,dielectric heating
更新于2025-11-14 17:28:48
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Phase-dependent photoluminescence of non-symmetric 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole liquid crystals
摘要： In order to understand the effect of disubstitution on calamitic liquid crystals, a series of non-symmetric 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole compounds were synthesized and characterized. These specific molecular architectures without the C2 axis were prepared to investigate their mesomorphism and physical properties and to compare them with symmetric molecules. Their liquid crystalline behavior was studied by differential scanning calorimetry, polarized optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The thermal properties evidenced the influence of non-symmetric design on the formation of liquid crystalline phases. Photophysical studies were performed in solution and with films, where these materials displayed intense photoluminescence between 500–650 nm, high quantum yields (ΦF = 0.62 – 0.96) and strong solvatochromism. Photoluminescence was measured as a function of temperature, displaying a strong dependence on the phase.
关键词： Heterocycles,Liquid crystals,Luminescence,2,1,3-Benzothiadiazole
更新于2025-09-23 15:23:52
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Optically switchable bistable guest–host displays in chiral-azobenzene- and dichroic-dye-doped cholesteric liquid crystals
摘要： Optically switchable bistable guest–host displays in chiral-azobenzene- and dichroic-dye-doped cholesteric liquid crystals (CA-DD-CLCs) are demonstrated. The CA-DD-CLCs in a LC cell treated by homeotropic alignment are initially in stable unwound textures. Given that all LC molecules in unwound textures are oriented perpendicularly to the substrates, the light absorbed by the doped DDs reaches the minimum value, which is considered the transparent state of the proposed CA-DD-CLCs. The CA-DD-CLCs are switched to fingerprint (FP) textures by illumination with ultraviolet (UV) light and can be switched back to unwound textures by illumination with green light. The optical switching between unwound and FP textures is based on the photo-tunable chirality of the doped CA via photoisomerization effect. The light absorbed by the doped DDs in FP textures reaches the maximum value, which is considered the dark state of the CA-DD-CLCs. Moreover, the performances of light absorption from the doped DDs when the CA-DD-CLCs are in unwound and FP textures is independent of the polarization of the incident light. Pattern information can be optically addressed (erased) in CA-DD-CLC cells by illumination with UV (green) light through a suitable photomask. The CA-DD-CLCs can be stabilized in FP textures for several tens of minutes in the dark environment. As such, the power is consumed only for the illumination of specific lights during the switching of CA-DD-CLCs between unwound and FP textures. Moreover, a transparent active matrix organic light-emitting diode (LED) display that is superimposed on top of a CA-DD-CLC cell embedded with a transparent light-guide film with suitable LED light sources for optical switching between unwound and FP textures, is proposed for augmented reality applications.
关键词： Cholesterics,Absorption,Guest-host display,Liquid crystals,Chiral azobenzene,Dichroic dyes
更新于2025-09-23 15:23:52
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Highly Efficient Luminescent Liquid Crystal with Aggregation-Induced Energy Transfer
摘要： A luminescent liquid crystal molecule (TPEMes) with efficient solid-state emission is rationally constructed via the chemically conjugation of blue-emitting tetraphenylethene cores and luminescent mesogenic tolane moieties, which are both featured with aggregation-induced emission properties. As for this fluorophore, aggregation induced energy transfer from the emissive tolane mesogens to the lighting-up tetraphenylethene units endows the molecule pure blue emission in the suspension and bulk state. Combining DSC, POM and 1D XRD experiments, TPEMes is deduced to adapt thermodynamically more stable layered crystalline phase, and can be 'frozen' into a monotropic smectic mesophase due to kinetic reasons. As a result of more densely packing of TPEMes in the crystalline phase indicated by 1D XRD, the luminescence of TPEMes in crystalline phase has blue-shifted with 17 nm relative to the metastable mesophase.
关键词： tolane,tetraphenylethene,aggregation induced emission,aggregation induced energy transfer,hexagonal columnar phase,luminescent liquid crystals
更新于2025-09-23 15:23:52
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Stimuli responsive diffraction gratings in soft-composite materials
摘要： Diffraction gratings (DGs) are unique optical components with the capability to control and address a travelling light wave because of their micro/nanoscale periodicity. Nowadays, DGs are used in several sophisticated and high-tech applications such as spectrometers, memories, as well as in bioengineering and telecommunications. Advanced micro and nano fabrication processes enable the realization of DGs with excellent morphological and optical properties. However, realizing DGs with on-demand optical parameters is still a challenge because of the absence of reliable and cost-effective smart materials. Herein, we discuss the unique and compelling opportunities obtained by bridging materials with intrinsic flexibility (soft polymers) and re-configurability (liquid crystals (LCs)), as well as emerging fabrication procedures. Further, we present several stimuli responsive DGs used in various research fields such as sensing, biotechnology and solar energy. Lastly, in the light of flexible and reconfigurable DGs applications, we report different examples of light responsive and electro-activated, LCs based, DGs.
关键词： photolithography,liquid crystals,diffraction gratings,optics
更新于2025-09-23 15:23:52
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Photoresponsive Halogen-Bonded Liquid Crystals: The Role of Aromatic Fluorine Substitution
摘要： A new strategy for controlling the liquid crystalline and photophysical properties of supramolecular mesogens assembled via halogen bonding is reported. Changing the degree of fluorination at the halogen-bond donor of the supramolecular liquid crystal allows for the fine-tuning of the halogen bond strength and thereby provides control over the temperature range of the mesophase. At least three fluorine atoms have to be present to ensure efficient polarization of the halogen-bond donor and the formation of a mesophase. In addition, it was found that stilbazole acceptors are superior to their azopyridine counterparts in promoting stable liquid crystalline phases. The halogen-bond-driven supramolecular liquid crystals between fluorinated azobenzenes and stilbazole/azopyridine acceptors show a rich variety of photoinduced processes driven by azobenzene photoisomerization, dictated not only by the photochemical properties of the molecular components but also by the difference between the operation temperature and the clearing point.
关键词： photoresponsive materials,fluorination,supramolecular chemistry,azobenzenes,halogen bonding,liquid crystals
更新于2025-09-23 15:23:52
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Fabrication of Uniaxially Aligned Silica Nanogrooves with Sub-5 nm Periodicity on Centimeter-Scale Si Substrate Using Poly(dimethylsiloxane) Stamp
摘要： The large-area fabrication of aligned nanopatterns with sub-5 nm feature size is crucial for developing nanodevices. Highly ordered nanostructures fabricated through molecular self-assembly exhibit substantial potential for sub-5 nm patterning techniques. Previously, we had reported the fabrication of silica nanogrooves with sub-5 nm periodicity on a Si substrate by using the outermost surfaces of cylindrical surfactant micelles as a template. However, uniaxial alignment of nanogrooves on the entire substrate surface has not yet been achieved. In this study, uniaxially aligned silica nanogrooves were prepared on the entire surface of a Si substrate (2 × 2 cm) by utilizing a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) stamp with a striped pattern. The PDMS stamp was placed on the surface of a surfactant thin film precoated on the substrate, although the stamp was not in direct contact with the substrate as in the case of the soft nanoimprint technique. The substrate was then exposed to water vapor, during which cylindrical micelles were aligned in the direction of the guide. Subsequently, by exposing the substrate to an NH3–water vapor mixture, the outermost surfaces of the aligned micelles facing the substrate were replicated with soluble silicate species. The formation of uniaxially aligned nanogrooves on the entire surface of the centimeter-scale substrate was verified by scanning electron microscopy observations and grazing-incidence small-angle X-ray scattering analysis. Thus, herein we provide a simple large-area fabrication method for uniaxially aligned nanopattern with ultra-fine pitch.
关键词： nanoimprint,nanopatterning,alignment control,directed self-assembly,liquid crystals
更新于2025-09-23 15:23:52