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Hydrogen‐Bonded Liquid Crystals in Confined Spaces—Toward Photonic Hybrid Materials |
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| Authors: | Matthias Spengler Ronald Y Dong Carl A Michal Wadood Y Hamad Mark J MacLachlan Michael Giese |
| Affiliation: | 1. Institute of Organic Chemistry and Cenide, University of Duisburg Essen, Essen, Germany;2. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada;3. Department of Physics and Astronomy, Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada;4. FPInnovations, Vancouver, Canada;5. Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada |
| Abstract: | A series of hybrid materials based on chiral nematic mesoporous organosilica (CNMO) films infiltrated with liquid crystalline hydrogen‐bonded assemblies is prepared and characterized with respect to the mutual manipulation of the photonic properties of the host and the liquid‐crystalline behavior of the guest. Detailed differential scanning calorimetry studies reveal the impact of confinement on the mesomorphic behavior of the liquid crystalline assemblies in the pores of the CNMO films. The photonic properties of the chiral nematic mesoporous host can be controlled by changing the temperature or irradiating the films with UV light. These stimuli‐induced phase transitions are accompanied by changes in the orientational order of the mesogens as revealed by 19F NMR spectroscopy. The combination of confinement and changes in the molecular orientation in a unique hybrid material based on hydrogen‐bonded liquid crystals and a porous host with a chiral nematic mesostructure is an interesting concept for the design of optical sensors, reflectors, or filters. |
| Keywords: | hybrid materials hydrogen‐bonding liquid crystals photonic structures photoswitching |