Bao-Yan Zhang

Liquid-crystalline elastomers produced by chemical crosslinking agents containing sulfonic acid groups

Abstract A series of siloxane-based liquid-crystalline (LC) elastomers were synthesized by using chemical crosslinking agents containing sulfonic acid groups. The crosslink densities of the elastomers were determined by swelling experiments. Two kinds of melting temperature corresponding to crystallization of siloxane matrix and crystallization of LC segments were clearly detected. Some of the polymers exhibited smectic mesophase textures or cholesteric mesophase textures. A proposed model containing LC segment structure and ionic crosslinking lamellar structure separated by siloxane chains was given. The ion aggregated in domains forces the siloxane chains to fold and form an irregular lamellar structure. Ionic aggregates and LC segments may be dispersed each other to form multiple blocks with increasing ionic crosslinking content.

Synthesis, structure and properties of new chiral liquid crystalline monomers and homopolysiloxanes containing menthyl groups

The synthesis is described of four new chiral liquid crystalline monomers (M2–M5 ) and their corresponding side‐chain homopolysiloxanes (P2–P5 ) containing menthyl groups. Chemical structures were characterised using FT‐IR or 1H NMR spectra, and specific optical rotations were evaluated with a polarimeter. The phase behaviour and mesomorphic properties of the new compounds were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, polarising optical microscopy, UV/visible/NIR spectrocopy and X‐ray diffraction. The monomers and homopolymers with more aryl segments showed noticeably lower specific optical rotation value. The monomers M2–M5 formed a cholesteric or blue phase when a flexible spacer was inserted between the rigid mesogenic core and the terminal menthyl groups by reducing the steric effect. M2–M5 revealed enantiotropic cholesteric phase. Moreover, M2 also exhibited a monotropic smectic A (SmA) phase, and M4 also exhibited a cubic blue phase on cooling. The selective reflection of light shifted to the long wavelength region with increasing rigidity of the mesogenic core for M2–M5 . P2–P5 exhibited SmA phases, and the mesogenic moieties were ordered in smectic orientation with their centres of gravity in planes. Melting or glass transition temperature and the clearing temperature increased, and the mesophase temperature range widened with increasing rigidity of the mesogenic core.

Optical characterization of polymer liquid crystal cell exhibiting polymer blue phases

The optical properties of polymer liquid crystal cell exhibiting polymer blue phases (PBPs) have been determined using ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry, polarizing optical microscopy (POM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray measurements, FTIR imaging and optical rotation technique. PBPs are thermodynamically stabile mesophases, which appear in chiral systems between isotropic and liquid crystal phases. A series of cyclosiloxane-based blue phase polymers were synthesized using a cholesteric LC monomer and a nematic LC monomer, and some of the polymers exhibit PBPs in temperature range over 300 degrees in cooling cycles. The unique property based on their structure and different twists formed and expect to open up new photonic application and enrich polymer blue phase contents and theory.

Effect of the site of hydrogen-bonding on the liquid crystalline behaviour of supramolecular complexes

Two series of hydrogen-bonded side-chain liquid crystal polymers have been prepared by mixing components containing carboxyl acid and pyridyl-based fragments. We have focused our attention on the effect that the position of the hydrogen bond donor or acceptor site attached to the side-chain backbone has on the hydrogen-bonding interactions and liquid crystalline phase transitions of the system. The liquid crystalline behaviour of the complexes is studied using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, polarising optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The results indicate that the phase transition temperatures of the complexes are influenced by the site of hydrogen-bonding.

Synthesis and characterization of side chain liquid crystalline polymers exhibiting cholesteric and blue phases

A series of cyclosiloxane‐based cholesteric liquid crystalline (LC) polymers were synthesized from a cholesteric LC monomer cholest‐5‐en‐3‐yl(3β) 4‐(2‐propenyloxy)benzoate and a nematic LC monomer butyl 4‐[4‐(2‐propenyloxy)benzoxy]benzoate. All the polymers exhibit thermotropic LC properties and show cholesteric phases. Most of the polymers display four types of phase transition behaviour corresponding to glass transition, melting point, cholesteric phase–blue phase transition and clearing point. The mesophase temperature range of the blue phases are as broad as 20°C. The blue phase was confirmed by the apperance of planar textures and cubic packings. With an increase of non‐chiral component in the polymers, the clearing point decreases slightly, while the glass transition and melting temperatures change little. In the reflection spectra of the polymer series the reflected wavelength broadens and shifts to longer wavelength with increase of the non‐chiral component in the polymer systems, suggesting that the helical pitch P lengthens.

Blue phases induced by rod-shaped hydrogen-bonded supermolecules possessing no chirality or mesomorphic behaviour

A liquid crystalline compound containing (−)-menthol as a chiral centre was prepared and used as a host material, the liquid crystalline behaviour of which were investigated. The host did not exhibit any blue phases on heating and cooling. A series of conventional rod-shaped hydrogen-bonded supermolecules with different terminal chain lengths were synthesized and used as dopants. These supermolecules did not possess chirality or exhibit any mesomorphic behaviour. By adding proton acceptors, proton donors and supermolecules into the host liquid crystal, respectively, the effects of these dopants on the liquid crystalline properties of the mixtures were studied. The formation of blue phases was induced by adding supermolecules into the host liquid crystals. The widest temperature range of the blue phase was about 45 K.

Cholesteric star-shaped liquid crystals induced by a maltose core: synthesis and characteristics

Three esters of maltose (A1–A3) with 4–(4–(alkoxybenzoyloxy)phenoxy) –6–oxohexanoic acid (b1–b3) side-arms have been synthesised. All the maltose derivatives were laevo-rotationary, unlike their parent cores. The side arm b1 did not display liquid crystalline (LC) properties, and b2 and b3 displayed thermotropic nematic LC properties. The star-shaped compound (SSC) A1 with b1 side-arms did not display a mesomorphic phase. Unlike the nematic schlieren texture provided by side-arms b2 and b3, the star-shaped liquid crystals (SSLC) A2 and A3 displayed Grandjean and oily texture in the cholesteric phase. The results suggest that the LC properties of the side-arms have an important influence on the formation of LC properties in an SSC, and that the maltose core is important in determining the mesomorphic phase type. In other words, the SSC displayed LC properties only when the side-arms were also LC, and the maltose core induced a cholesteric phase in the SSLC with nematic side-arms. The mesomorphic regions for A2 and A3 were 39.1 and 53.7°C during the heating cycle and 63.8 and 107.0°C during the cooling cycle, respectively. The longer terminal chain rendered the mesomorphic region broader.

Liquid-crystalline behaviours of novel chitosan derivates containing singular and cholesteryl groups

A series of esters of chitosan with cholesteryl hexanoate and cholesteryl decanoate side chains were synthesised. These compounds had higher solubilities than chitosan itself and all formed cholesteric lyotropic liquid crystalline phases. They had enhanced mesogenic properties as compared with the parent polymer. We consider that these compounds may prove to be of value as vehicles for drug delivery.

Synthesis and mesomorphism study of star‐shaped carbohydrate liquid crystals containing glucosyl and glutamyl residues

A series of novel star‐shaped carbohydrate derivative liquid crystals was synthesized with glucose as the chiral core structure. Glutamyl mesogenic moieties, l‐R‐{n‐[4‐(cholesteryloxycarbonyl)benzoyloxy]alkoxy}glutamic acid, were introduced to the five hydroxy groups of glucose by direct esterification. The chemical structures of the target liquid crystalline compounds were confirmed by element analysis and Fourier transform infrared, 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectroscopy. The mesomorphic behaviour and thermal properties of target liquid crystalline compounds were investigated with differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, polarizing optical microscopy, X‐ray diffraction and specific rotation. All the target compounds exhibit a cholesteric liquid crystalline phase. These compounds demonstrate a wide mesogenic region and high thermal stability. The effect of flexible spacer group length of the target compounds on the molecular structure and thermal properties is discussed.

Dispersing Carbon Nanotubes by Chiral Network Surfactants

Chiral network surfactants (CNSs) possessing miscibility with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and chiral materials are applied to disperse CNTs. Ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy is used to quantitatively determine the CNT concentration in homogeneous CNT-CNS dispersions, results indicate that CNSs with more mole fraction of polycyclic conjugated structure have better ability to load and disperse CNTs and the maximal concentration reaches 0.79 mg mL(-1). Fourier transform infrared imaging system is utilized to analyze the dispersibility of CNTs in CNT-CNS composites, and CNS with 6 mol % nonmesogens (S6) induces the best dispersibility. The CNT doped CNSs exhibit lower glass transition temperature, strengthened thermal stability, decreased the thermochromic temperature and enriched reflected colors of CNSs. Furthermore, S6 are used as a promoter to disperse CNTs in chiral host, here, a left-handed chiral liquid crystal (CLC) is selected, the miscibility between CNTs and CLCs is studied by polarized optical microscope, and CNTs can be effectively dispersed in CLCs by S6. The CNT dispersed CLCs can exhibit a faster electro-optical response process than neat CLCs.