Curing of mesogenic epoxy monomer p-Bis(2, 3-epoxypropoxy)-cz-methylstilbene (DOMS) with aromatic amines is discussed. The crosslinking density is controlled using a mixture of biand tetra-functional hardener. The unidirectional alignment of the molecules was achieved during the curing process by external factors such as surface-liquid crystal interactions.

We have demonstrated the effects of magnetic field alignment for the epoxy resin system, the diglycidyl ether of dihydroxy-α-methylstilbene cured with sulfanilamide. With increasing magnetic field, the tensile modulus of the thermoset can be enhanced by a factor of three, without compromise to the transverse value. Measurements of the coefficients of thermal expansion and the order parameter as determined by x-ray diffraction elucidate the high degree of alignment obtained at field strengths of 15–18 Tesla.

The interrelationship between the reaction kinetics of curing with the molecular alignment process is central to successful processing of this class of thermosets. Preliminary relationships between the field strength, time in the magnetic field, reaction rate, and extent of reaction have been developed. Process control and sequencing allow a wide adjustment in the properties of the produced samples. Our studies demonstrate the increased value of multi-mode processing in the development of tailored property, lightweight materials.

Polyethylene trisiloxane surfactants M(D′En)M (n=6, 8, 10, 12) self assemble into sheet-like structure and form various lyotropic cubic, hexagonal and lamellar liquid crystal phases in ternary trisiloxane surfactant - silicone oil - water systems. Small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) was used to identify and characterize the liquid crystal phases. Cyclic octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4), decamethyl-cyclopentasiloxane(D5) and short linear decamethyltetrasiloxane (MD2M) silicone oils facilitate the formation of liquid crystals. The structures in liquid crystals (LC) progress from zero curvature lamellar liquid crystals to higher curvature cubic liquid crystals with increasing the surfactant hydrophilic head group size. The effects of surfactant and oil concentration on the lamellar bilayer thickness and molecular packing were studied with small angle X-ray scattering.

Liquid crystalline phases, consisting of nonionic surfactant and water, are exploited as templates for the synthesis of inorganic nanostructures In this approach the aqueous domains of a lyotropic liquid crystal phase function as a confining medium, in which the polymerisation of a watersoluble precursor takes place without destroying the nanostructure. Conducting the prepration of mesoporous silica in a lyotropic liquid crystal phase has considerable advantages over previous routes towards mesoporous ceramic oxides. (i) The nanostructure of the solid can be predicted a priori by knowing the phase structure of the liquid crystal before solidification, (ii) this approach allows the use of nonionic surfactants as templates, (iii) the progress of the reaction can be observed by a variety of methods, such as polarised light optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and deuterium NMR spectroscopy, all of which are noninvasive. The synthesis and a new way of monitoring the temporal evolution of the inorganic nanostructure using deuterium NMR spectroscopy are described. The results show unambiguously that the lyotropic liquid crystal phase acts as a template for the nanostructure.

A series of simple deuterium NMR experiments are used to investigate the surfaces of differently structured silicas by studying the sorption of deuteriated solvents. Two mesoporous silicas (MCM-41 and H1-silica), which display hexagonally arranged channels of uniform diameter are studied, as well as amorphous column silica. The deuterium NMR lineshape strongly depends on the anisotropic environment of the adsorbed deuteriated species (D2O, benzene-d6, pyridine-d5). This allows differentiation between probe molecules adsorbed to the internal surface (anisotropic) and to the external surface (isotropic, non-ordered surface of particles). Solvents adsorbed within the channels of the silica nanostructure retain a degree of orientational order while moving on the surface, thus producing a Pake pattern. In contrast, solvents adsorbed on the outside of the ordered channels and on domain boundaries retain no orientational order while moving on the surface, therefore giving rise to a singlet in the deuterium NMR spectrum. This phenomenon allows to judge and compare the qualities of hexagonal ceramic nanostructures. The results show that H1-silica exhibits a significantly higher degree of order, due to a larger domain size, than MCM-41.

The electro-optical properties of an electroclinic liquid crystal have been investigated using a spatially resolved technique which measures the birefringence, optical tilt angle and extinction within adjacent stripe domains. A comparison of these results with the data obtained from standard optical and X-ray measurements suggests the presence of substripes or an angular distribution of molecular directors within the stripe domains.

The introduction of polymeric materials into liquid crystal (LC) matrices has been the focus of much interest in recent years. When a small percentage of polymer network is introduced, the mechanical strength of an LC system increases dramatically without significantly altering the electro-optic properties of the LC. One particular group of LCs, namely, ferroelectric liquid crystals (FLCs), are excellent candidates for such stabilization. FLCs, despite showing great potential for use in electro-optic and display technology due to inherently fast switching times and bistability, have found limited use as they are extremely susceptible to mechanical shock. This study examines the effects of polymerization conditions of a diacrylate monomer in an FLC on its inherent electro-optic properties. The LC phase in which polymerization occurs has a dramatic effect on the polymerization behavior and formation of the polymer network. Such effects have interesting implications on the ferroelectric polarization and switching speed of the FLC. As the temperature of polymerization increases and thus the order of the LC phase decreases, the ferroelectric polarization and the switching time increase.

The results of a recent study of a nonlinear electro-optical effect in fullerene C60-doped nematic liquid crystal film are presented. In particular, photo-induced conduction, self diffraction effect, and permanent holographic formation in the films are explained.

Optical switching and image storage were explored by means of azobenzene liquid crystals (LCs). Azobenzene derivatives with monomeric and polymeric forms were prepared, which show nematic LC phase in the trans form while no LC phase in the cis form. On pulse irradiation at 355 nm, which causes trans-cis isomerization of the azobenzene moiety, these azobenzene LC films underwent nematic (N) to isotropic (1) phase transition in 100 ˜ 200 μs as probed by change in transmittance of a He-Ne laser through crossed polarizers (transmission-mode analysis) or change in reflectivity at the interface between the sample and glass substrate (reflection-mode analysis). In the reflection-mode analysis, the decay was faster than that observed in the transmission-mode analysis. The N phase recovered through the cis-trans thermal backisomerization process in the transmission-mode analysis, while it was restored through diffusion of the cis form, followed by reorientation of the trans form which replaced the cis form in the interface region, in the reflection-mode analysis. The photochemical N-I phase transition was also induced in 200 μs below Tg of the polymer azobenzene LC. Image could be stored into the polymer azobenzene LC film on photoirradiation to bring about the N-I phase transition and the stored image remained unchanged even after one year when it was kept below Tg of the polymer.

Spin-coated thin films of cyclohexane-based liquid crystalline materials were used for the fabrication of electroluminescent diodes. Electroluminescence from single-component films of cyclohexane-based liquid crystalline materials was observed. Double component films composed of a cyclohexane-based liquid crystalline material and a conventional hole transport dye were shown to give improved electroluminescence performances, but emission was due to exciplexes composed of two components. Use of cyclohexane-based dye molecules was effective for suppressing the formation of inter-molecular complexes. The highest external quantum efficiency observed was 0.17%.

Organic electroluminescent(EL) diodes using spin-coat films of cyclohexane-based glass-forming liquid crystal (LC) materials were fabricated. The cyclohexane-based LC materials were found to be useful for EL diodes. Blending the LC materials with charge transport molecules was found to be a promising method for improving device performance. Conventional hole transport and electron transport molecules were found to show a tendency to form exciplexes with cyclohexanebased LC materials. This difficulty was overcome by the introduction of cyclohexane-based charge transport molecules. The EL quantum efficiency of 0.06% was attained in the single-layer devices with two-component blends.

Linearly and circularly polarized photoluminescence (PL) were observed from neat vitrified liquid crystal (LC) films. Electronic properties of the compounds were investigated through measurement of absorption and emission spectra in solution and in film. The nematic film exhibited a polarization factor (linear polarization) of 2.8 at an order parameter of 0.70, whereas the chiral nematic film gave rise to an absolute dissymmetry factor (circular polarization) of 0.27 at an order parameter of 0.54.

Chiral nematic liquid crystalline films with fluorescent chromophores are capable of circularly polarized emission. A theory is presented in which the effects of anisotropic absorption and film thickness are accounted for. The predicted dissymmetry factor is compared with experimental data reported by Stegemeyer et al. and with the theory for the two limiting cases treated by Pollmann et al.

A novel low molar mass glassy chiral nematic oligomer has been developed that exhibits a large selective reflection bandwidth (>100 nm). This has immense potential in applications requiring the polarization of light over a broad spectral bandwidth, corresponding to the range of human vision, with minimal absorption and high efficiency. Definite advantages are observed over other low molar mass and polymeric chiral nematic materials reported in the literature that typically have narrower polarization bandwidths requiring more complex structures to cover the visible spectrum. The glass transition and clearing temperatures of this material are well separated, that in turn facilitates device processing. Devices up to 4"×5" have been successfully fabricated. Their optical properties are discussed.

The electro-optical properties of polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) materials depend on both the chemical nature of the liquid crystal and polymer, as well as the morphology of the liquid crystal/polymer composite. The relationship between several aspects of film structure and PDLC film properties are described, emphasizing scattering effects and reorientation fields. In particular, the idea of relative orientation of neighboring droplets as controlling light scattering, and the role of anchoring in determining film voltages, are highlighted.

Polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) films are composed of micrometer-scale droplets of liquid crystal (typically nematic) in a polymeric matrix. They can be switched with an electric field from a scattering to a transparent state, and are of interest for use in flat-panel displays. The electro-optics of PDLC films, and the director field pattern within the nematic droplets, are strongly influenced by the surface anchoring condition at the liquid crystal - polymer matrix interface. To understand the role of surface anchoring, we studied the electro-optics of photopolymerized PDLC films composed of a liquid crystal and acrylates as a function of temperature. Properties depend strongly upon the choice of the acrylate. With several acrylate matrix materials, the nernatic director field undergoes a reversible, temperature-driven configurational transition, accompanied by dramatic changes in electro-optical properties. We find that the surface anchoring behavior is very sensitive to the polymer structure as well as several parameters of PDLC film formation. Several surface anchoring transitions are used in a study that shows strong evidence for surface memory in PDLC films.

Dominant factors that control the aggregation structure and electro-optical properties were presented for (polymer/liquid crystal) composite films prepared by a solvent cast method from homogeneous solutions. Phase-separation behavior of the composite films consisting of a three dimensional polymer network and low molecular weight liquid crystals (LCs) embedded in the network was studied by evaluating the development of optical heterogeneity in the casting solution during film formation and by observing the morphology of the polymer networks. It was confirmed from light scattering studies of the casting solution during solvent evaporation that the phase-separated structure of polymer and LC was formed through spinodal decomposition. The resultant size of the LC domain in the composite film was controlled by regulating the solvent evaporation rate. The morphology of the polymer network in the composite film was also strongly influenced by the solubility between the polymer and the casting solvent. The electro-optical properties based on field controlled light scattering of the composite film were strongly dependent on the size of the LC domain. Though the rise response time decreased, the decay response time increased with an increase in the size of LC domains in the composite film. When poly(diisopropyl fumarate), which is not compatible with the LC, was used as the matrix polymer, no electro-optical hysteresis was observed, while considerable electro-optical hysteresis was observed for the composite film consisting of poly(methyl methacrylate), which shows a certain compatibility with the LC.

Polymer dispersed liquid crystals ( PDLC ) are potentially useful as new types of display devices. By applying an electric field, one can switch the PDLC cell from a highly scattering opaque state to a transparent state. Normal PDLC cells consist of liquid crystal droplets, having sizes on the order of micrometers, embedded in a transparent polymer matrix. In this paper, we report the development of a new kind of PDLC cell with a distinct type of polymer morphology, teferred to as “reverse ” or “polymer ball ” type. The electro-optical behavior and the micro structure of the PDLC films were investigated by a He-Ne laser and the scanning electron microscopy ( SEA ) respectively.

Some classes of liquid crystalline monoacrylates having no methylene spacers in a side chain have been prepared. The liquid crystalline monoacrylates have effects to reduce the driving voltage and the hysteresis for a light scattering display of Polymer Network liquid crystals prepared by photo-polymerization-induced phase separation.

By photo-polymerization of a chiral monoacrylate monomer in a nematic liquid crystalline host including a black dichroic dye, a polarizer free reflective Spiral Polymer Aligned Nematic (SPAN) Guest Host (GH) LCD exhibiting a low driving voltage has been fabricated. The effect of the spiral polymers made of some kinds of chiral monoacrylates for a Super Twisted Nematic (STN) LCD using SPAN liquid crystals is discussed.

UV-curable liquid crystals showing nematic phases at room temperature have been developed. By in situ photo-polymerization, the UV-curable liquid crystals can be utilized for the retardation film with high quality and good thermal stability. The fabrication of various kinds of retardation film using the UV-curable liquid crystals is discussed.

UV-curable liquid crystals having isotropic-nematic-smectic A phase sequence have been developed and the photo-polymerization at the state of their uniaxially oriented smectic A phases at room temperature is discussed. The polymerized film is optically uniaxial and transparent without light scattering.

Porous matrices with determined pore size, volume fraction and structure can be used as model systems to understand physical properties of dispersed liquid crystals (LC) - material important for different applications. Using photon correlation spectroscopy and dielectric spectroscopy we investigated dynamic properties of nematic liquid crystal dispersed in porous matrices with randomly oriented, interconnected pores (porous glasses with average pore sizes of 100 Å and 1000 Å) and parallel cylindrical pores (Anopore membranes with pore diameters of 200 Å and 2000 Å). Since the structural characteristics of these matrices are nearly independent of the temperature, all observable effects due to temperature changes can be attributed to the change in the physical properties of the second component (bC). The spatial confinement and a highly developed interface in porous matrices have a strong influence on the optical and dielectric properties of confined LC which is resulted in: appearance of at least two new dielectrically active modes, absent in the bulk and existence of slow glass-like relaxational process detected in both dielectric and photon correlation experiments.