Bent core liquid crystal elastomers

Journal Article · Wed Jul 28 04:00:00 EDT 2010 · Journal of Materials Chemistry

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1039/c0jm01920h· OSTI ID:1001320

Verduzco, R; DiMasi, E; Luchette, P; Ho Hong, S; Harden, J; Palffy-Muhoray, P; Kilbey, II, S M; Sprunt, S; Gleeson, G.T. Jakli, A.

Liquid crystal (LC) elastomers with bent-core side-groups incorporate the properties of bent-core liquid crystals in a flexible and self-supporting polymer network. Bent-core liquid crystal elastomers (BCEs) with uniform alignment were prepared by attaching a reactive bent-core LC to poly(hydrogenmethylsiloxane) and crosslinking with a divinyl crosslinker. Phase behavior studies indicate a nematic phase over a wide temperature range that approaches room temperature, and thermoelastic measurements show that these BCEs can reversibly change their length by more than a factor of two upon heating and cooling. Small-angle X-ray scattering studies reveal multiple, broad low-angle peaks consistent with short-range smectic C order of the bent-core side groups. A comparison of these patterns with predictions of a Landau model for short-range smectic C order shows that the length scale for smectic ordering in BCEs is similar to that seen in pure bent-core LCs. The combination of rubber elasticity and smectic ordering of the bent-core side groups suggests that BCEs may be promising materials for sensing, actuating, and other advanced applications.

• Research Organization: BROOKHAVEN NATIONAL LABORATORY (BNL)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE - Office Of Science
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-98CH10886
• OSTI ID: 1001320
• Report Number(s): BNL--94348-2010-JA; KC0204011
• Journal Information: Journal of Materials Chemistry, Journal Name: Journal of Materials Chemistry Journal Issue: 39 Vol. 20; ISSN JMACEP; ISSN 0959-9428; ISSN 1364-5501
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ALIGNMENT
ELASTICITY
ELASTOMERS
HEATING
LIQUID CRYSTALS
POLYMERS
RUBBERS
SCATTERING