Nicholas C. Maliszewskyj

Fluoroalkylated discotic liquid crystals

Abstract The concept of mesophase stabilization by partial fluorination of side chains has been extended to discotic systems. The mesophase structure is essentially unchanged, whereas the temperature range of the mesophase is strongly affected by the fluorinated side chains. Triphenylene substituted with only one partially fluorinated side chain exhibits a decrease of the clearing temperature, whereas for symmetrically substituted systems a broad range mesophase has been observed. This behaviour can be attributed to a segregation of the incompatible parts of the molecule giving rise to a stabilized columnar structure for the symmetrical substitution pattern.

Unexpected Square Symmetry Seen by Atomic Force Microscopy in Bilayer Films of Disk-Like Molecules

Thin films of disk-shaped molecules are expected to display anisotropic optical and transport properties, leading to applications in optical display or sensor technologies. Bilayer Langmuir-Blodgett films of monomeric triphenylene mesogens have been studied by atomic force microscopy. The triphenylene cores of the constituent molecules tend to promote the formation of columnar structures in the plane of the substrate and along the direction of deposition of the film. Atomic force microscopy images of bilayer Langmuir-Blodgett films revealed two types of structure, one corresponding to an aligned columnar structure and the other to an unusual square lattice, which may result from the superposition of columnar structures in adjacent layers that intersect at near right angles. Annealing such bilayers near the melting point of the bulk compound improved the structural ordering by reducing the angular spread of orientations associated with the well-developed columnar structure in some areas and by producing a more distinct square lattice in other areas of the sample.

Structure and low energy dynamics of solid C60

Abstract A simple model explains both the Bragg peaks and the diffuse scattering observed in neutron diffraction measurements on Solid C 60 at 295 and 14 K. Neutron inelastic scattering measurements reveal dynamic orientational disorder above the order-disorder transition temperature. An analysis of the diffraction results shows that significant disorder remains at 14 K.

STRUCTURAL PHASE TRANSITION IN ULTRATHIN FILMS OF DISK-SHAPED MOLECULES

We have used grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy to study Langmuir-Blodgett films of 2-(3-hydroxypropyl)oxy-3,6,7,10,11-pentapentyloxytriphenylene, a disk-shaped molecule which also forms a bulk liquid crystalline columnar phase. Upon heating, we observe a phase transition from a low symmetry ordered crystalline structure to a high temperature liquid crystal. The transition is reversible, with considerable hysteresis.

Liquid crystalline hexa-amides and side chain polysiloxanes of azacrown [18]-N6

Abstract The hexa-4-dodecyloxybenzoyl derivative 1 of azacrown [18]-N6 was originally reported to have a ‘tubular’ mesophase on the basis of its large central ring and 6-fold symmetry. Starting in the mesophase, annealing of 1 under a cover slip results in formation of a new crystalline phase that melts directly to an isotropic liquid at the temperature previously observed for the mesophase to isotropic transition. Thus the phase behaviour of 1 is kinetically controlled. The analogous hexa-3,4-bisdodecyloxybenzoyl derivative 2 of azacrown [18]-N6 has no kinetic limitations to its phase changes and has an enantiotropic columnar liquid crystalline phase. We have synthesized side chain copolysiloxanes with a (CH2)11 spacer and 75–84 per cent by weight of the same 4-dodecyloxybenzoyl-[18]-N6 mesogen. The polysiloxanes also display a liquid crystalline phase.

Hexagonal order in some mesophases of hexacyclen derivatives

High-resolution X-ray diffraction measurements on the hexacyclen derivatives 1a–c have provided the first direct experimental evidence of hexagonal order in a hexacyclen mesophase.