Main-chain Chiral Smectic Polymers Showing a Large Electroclinic Effect in the SmA* Phase
The synthesis and characterization of a main-chain smectic liquid-crystalline polymer system designed for development into electromechanical actuators is described. The chemical structure is chosen to provide a large electroclinic effect in the SmA* phase, with large concomitant layer shrinkage (a rare combination). The polymers are prepared by acyclic diene metathesis polymerization (ADMET) of liquid-crystalline ,-dienes. Oligomers with a degree of polymerization of {approx}10-30 are obtained using Grubbs first-generation catalyst, while oligomers with a degree of polymerization of {approx}200 are obtained using Grubbs second-generation catalyst. All polymer samples show the following phase sequence: I - SmA* - SmC* - Glass. X-ray analysis of polymer powder samples demonstrates the desired layer shrinkage at the SmA* - SmC* transition. The polymers form well-aligned fibers by pulling from the isotropic melt, and X-ray analysis of fibers in the SmA* phase shows that in the bulk of the fiber the layers are oriented perpendicular to the fiber axis, while at the surfaces there appears to be a thin sheath where the layers are parallel to the fiber/air interface. The desired layer shrinkage with tilt at the SmA* - SmC* transition in these fibers is seen as well, and in the SmC* phase the fibers exhibit an interesting conical chevron layer structure. Electro-optic investigation of aligned thin films of the polymer, prepared from quenched fiber glasses using a novel technique, exhibit a large electroclinic effect, with substantial degradation of alignment quality upon field-induced tilt. This degradation in alignment quality, coupled with the layer shrinkage at the SmA* - SmC* transition demonstrated by X-ray scattering, strongly suggests the desired layer shrinkage with electroclinic tilt is in fact occurring in the polymer films.
- Research Organization:
- Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). National Synchrotron Light Source
- Sponsoring Organization:
- Doe - Office Of Science
- DOE Contract Number:
- DE-AC02-98CH10886
- OSTI ID:
- 930254
- Report Number(s):
- BNL-80946-2008-JA; CMATEX; TRN: US200822%%1236
- Journal Information:
- Chemistry of Materials, Vol. 18; ISSN 0897-4756
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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