Design, Synthesis, and Characterization of Bent-Core Mesogen-Jacketed Liquid Crystalline Polymers

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2006 · Macromolecules

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ma051939d· OSTI ID:914181

Chen, X; Tenneti, K; Li, C; Bai, Y; Zhou, R; Wan, X; Fan, X; Zhou, Q

We report the design, synthesis, and characterization of a series of mesogen-jacketed liquid crystalline polymers with bent-core liquid crystals (BCLCs). For the first time, BCLC mesogens were directly side-attached to the polymer backbone and bent-core mesogen-jacketed liquid crystalline polymers (BMJLCPs) were achieved. Both three-ring and five-ring mesogens were employed. The n-alkoxy substituent lengths for the three-ring and five-ring BMJLCPs were controlled as n = 1-5 and n = 6-16, respectively. Various characterization techniques such as differential scanning calorimetry, wide-angle X-ray diffraction, and polarized light microscopy were used to study their mesomorphic phase behavior. The monomers of five-ring BMJLCPs with relatively long tails showed mesophase behavior. Columnar liquid crystalline phase was observed in both three-ring and five-ring BMJLCPs. Columnar rectangular ({phi}{sub R}) phase was observed in the three-ring system. In the five-ring BMJLCPs, relatively short-tail homologues possess {phi}{sub R} phase, while columnar hexagonal phase was observed in the long-tail samples. The differences in the phase structures were attributed to the 'softness' of the macromolecular BMJLCP column surface.

• Research Organization: Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) National Synchrotron Light Source
• Sponsoring Organization: Doe - Office Of Science
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-98CH10886
• OSTI ID: 914181
• Report Number(s): BNL--78749-2007-JA
• Journal Information: Macromolecules, Journal Name: Macromolecules Vol. 39
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
DESIGN
LIQUID CRYSTALS
MORPHOLOGY
PHASE STUDIES
POLYMERS
SYNTHESIS
national synchrotron light source