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Published on: October 10, 2016
Liquid crystalline corannulene responsive to electric field
Daigo Miyajima1, Kentaro Tashiro, Fumito Araoka
1School of Engineering and Center for NanoBio Integration, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan.
Journal of the American Chemical Society
|January 9, 2009
Summary
A novel corannulene derivative self-assembles into a liquid crystalline (LC) phase, exhibiting electric field responsiveness and memory effects. This nonplanar molecule aligns homeotropically, retaining its orientation after the field is removed.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Organic Chemistry
- Liquid Crystals
Background:
- Planar polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons form columnar liquid crystalline (LC) assemblies.
- Nonplanar molecular structures present unique challenges and opportunities in self-assembly and material properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize a novel amide-appended corannulene derivative with tribranched paraffinic side chains.
- To investigate the liquid crystalline (LC) behavior and electric field response of this nonplanar molecule.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of the corannulene derivative.
- Differential scanning calorimetry and polarized optical microscopy to study LC mesophase behavior.
- Electric field application to observe molecular alignment and memory effects.
Main Results:
- The corannulene derivative self-assembles into a hexagonal columnar LC mesophase over a broad temperature range (-10 to 154 °C).
- Unlike planar analogs, the nonplanar derivative's LC assembly responds to an electric field, achieving homeotropic alignment.
- This homeotropic alignment is memorized for extended periods post-field removal, persisting until the clearing temperature is reached.
Conclusions:
- Amide-appended corannulene derivatives with specific side chains can form stable hexagonal columnar liquid crystalline (LC) phases.
- Nonplanar corannulene-based LCs exhibit unique electric field-induced alignment and persistent memory effects.
- These findings suggest potential applications in responsive materials and data storage.
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