Synthesis and Properties of Photoisomerizable Derivatives of Isosorbide and Their Use in Cholesteric Filters

This paper describes the synthesis of photoisomerizable derivatives of isosorbide. These derivatives contain a stilbene or cinnamate moiety and can therefore be used as photoisomerizable chiral compounds in cholesteric liquid‐crystalline mixtures. The reflection wavelength of cholesteric layers made from these mixtures is increased by UV irradiation due to the fact that the Z‐isomers of these derivatives exhibit a lower helical twisting power than the corresponding E‐isomers. The cinnamate derivatives are very suitable for use in cholesteric color filters that find application in liquid‐crystal displays.     

胆甾相液晶的光学特性

基于胆甾相液晶的特殊分子结构，综合阐述了胆甾相液晶的旋光性、选择性光散射和偏振光二色性等光学特性，揭示了它的光学特性主要源于它螺旋状的分子结构及其光学各相异性。     

Electrotunable Non‐reciprocal Laser Emission from a Liquid‐Crystal Photonic Device

A liquid crystal (LC) photonic device with an anisotropic optical heterojunction structure has been fabricated. The device has a phase‐retarding nematic LC (NLC) layer sandwiched between two polymer cholesteric LC films with right‐handed helices of different pitches. Electrotunable non‐reciprocal light transmittance and unidirectional circularly polarized (CP) lasing emission have been successfully demonstrated for this device structure. Two left CP (LCP) lasing emission peaks are observed at the edges of the overlapping region between the two photonic bands in the structure and are shifted upon the application of a voltage. In contrast, a non‐reciprocal right CP (RCP) lasing emission peak emerges at one of the band edges and diminishes upon the application of a voltage. These phenomena are interpreted based on the selective reflection of RCP light and the reorientation of the NLC molecules by the application of a voltage.     

Recoverable shear strain of liquid crystal‐forming concentrated hydroxypropyl cellulose solutions

The recoverable shear strain (S_R) for the liquid crystal‐forming hydroxypropyl cellulose solutions was determined by means of a concentric cylinder rotational apparatus as functions of shear stress prior to recovery and concentration of the solutions at 30°C. S_R greatly depended on shear stress and concentration; the phase of the solution (the single phase or biphase) governed the dependences of S_R on stress and concentration. S_R increased with increasing stress for the single phase and decreased for the biphase. S_R seemed to be related to the die swell (B): S_R ∝ Bⁿ. S_R exhibited a maximum and a minimum with respect to concentration. S_R for the cellulosic cholesteric liquid crystalline solutions was greater than that for the isotropic solutions. A model was proposed for explaining the greater S_R. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 85: 865–872, 2002     

氢键自组装侧链液晶聚合物的制备及性能

为了获得氢键自组装液晶聚合物,制备了两种单体M1和M2,通过调节单体M1和M2的摩尔比,利用氢键自组装方法制备得到了一系列侧链液晶聚合物.利用红外光谱仪(FTIR)、差示扫描量热仪(DSC)和偏光显微镜(POM)测试了氢键自组装侧链液晶聚合物的液晶性能.结果表明,P3和P5液晶聚合物在2 510 cm-1和1 920 cm-1处出现了氢键的吸收峰,而P3、P4和P5液晶聚合物均具有两个熔融吸收峰.P1~P5液晶聚合物具有Grandjean织构,为典型的胆甾相;P6液晶聚合物具有明显的球形织构,为典型的向列相.     

A rugged display: Recent results of flexible cholesteric liquid‐crystal displays

Abstract— A 3‐m‐long rugged flexible display having a novel single‐plastic‐substrate structure has been demonstrated with a coated cholesteric liquid‐crystal mixture. The display is designed to be fabricated by a roll‐to‐roll process to increase productivity at a competitive cost. It has the advantage of having almost no limitation in display length. The high‐resolution (300‐dpi) monochrome cholesteric liquid‐crystal display (ChLCD) can be achieved by using a photo‐addressing method. A single‐layered 10.4‐in. color ChLCD also has been developed with good color and contrast.     

Influence of the rigidity of the steroid core in the structure of chiral dopants on the temperature dependence of cholesteric short pitch

New chiral compounds of the steroid type, namely, 3-alkanoyl- and 3-alkyl derivatives of 16-arylidene estrone, were synthesized and exhibited high helical twisting power (HTP) in nematic liquid crystals E63 and LC-1289. The peculiarities of the molecular structure of chiral compounds (CCs) and their high degree of chirality were discussed. Quite small concentrations of chiral compounds in both nematic solvents were needed to obtain a short-pitch cholesteric helical macrostructure with the selective light reflection in the visible range of the spectrum. The insignificant temperature dependence of the maximum wavelength of the selective light reflection obtained on the whole cholesteric range for all studied liquid crystalline (LC) systems could be related to relatively rigid molecular structure of the chiral compounds. The cholesteric LC mixtures comprising 3-alkanoyl- and 3-alkyl derivatives of 16-arylidene estrone were characterized by the phase stability and the stability of reflective characteristics in time that makes it possible to consider this series of dopants as appropriate for development of bistable cholesteric reflective LC displays.     

显示用胆甾相液晶材料发展现状

介绍了胆甾相液晶显示性能和对液晶材料的要求,分析了近几年高双折射率液晶化合物和手性掺加剂及其胆甾相液晶材料的应用与发展情况,初步阐明了分子结构与液晶性能及其手性掺加剂的HTP值之间的依存关系,为开发新型液晶化合物、手性化合物和胆甾相液晶材料提供了线索。