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From Molecules to Materials: Engineering New Ionic Liquid Crystals Through Halogen Bonding
Published on: March 24, 2018
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Phase Transition and Dynamics in Imidazolium-Based Ionic Liquid Crystals through a Metastable Highly Ordered Smectic
Yoko Nozaki1, Keito Yamaguchi1, Kenji Tomida1
1Department of Physics, Ritsumeikan University , Noji-Higashi 1-1-1, Kusatsu 525-8577, Japan.
The Journal of Physical Chemistry. B
|May 20, 2016
Summary
Ionic liquid crystals exhibit unique phase transitions, including a metastable phase with partial disorder. This phase influences structural changes and charge carrier dynamics during heating and cooling cycles.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Physical Chemistry
- Condensed Matter Physics
Background:
- Ionic liquid crystals (ILCs) are advanced materials with tunable properties.
- Understanding their phase transitions is crucial for developing new applications.
- 1-methyl-3-alkylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate salts are a class of ILCs with varying alkyl chain lengths.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the phase transition behavior and dynamics of 1-methyl-3-alkylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ILCs.
- To elucidate the mechanism of structural and phase changes in these ILCs.
- To explore the relationship between phase behavior and charge carrier dynamics.
Main Methods:
- X-ray scattering
- Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)
- Optical microscopy
- Dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (DRS)
Main Results:
- A metastable phase was identified, appearing via a supercooled smectic phase upon cooling.
- This metastable phase exhibits partial disorder, with order higher than smectic but lower than crystalline.
- Upon heating, the metastable phase's disorder activates, leading to crystalline phase formation before returning to the smectic phase.
Conclusions:
- The study reveals complex phase behavior in ionic liquid crystals, including a novel metastable phase.
- The findings provide insights into the interplay between structural ordering and charge carrier dynamics.
- This research contributes to the fundamental understanding of ionic liquid crystal phase transitions.
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