Improving the mesomorphism in bispyrazolate Pd(II) metallomesogens: an efficient platform for ionic conduction

The introduction of structural asymmetry in metallomesogens is an established strategy to improve their mesomorphic behaviour in terms of lower melting temperatures and higher stability ranges of the mesophase, which is particularly important for metallomesogens that have potential application as electrolytes that require wide operational temperature ranges. Here in this work, a novel series of unsymmetrical bis(isoquinolinylpyrazolate)palladium(II) compounds bearing four alkyl side-chains with different lengths are described. Rectangular and hexagonal columnar mesophases were formed with low melting temperatures of 42-45 °C in most cases, whereas the clearing temperatures reached values up to 412 °C. The charge transport properties have been studied by complex impedance spectroscopy, showing that the mesophase favours proton conduction in the absence of water or humidity. The exceptional thermal stability of these species makes them promising candidates to act as a platform for ionic conduction via the nanochannels originated in the columnar mesophases. The results presented confirm that introducing structural asymmetry in the Pd(II) metallomesogens studied is a valid strategy to enhance the liquid crystalline properties, which opens new ways to develop water-free electrolytes based on unsymmetrical bis(isoquinolinylpyrazolate) Pd(II) compounds for potential applications such as proton exchange membranes (PEMs).

Water Molecular Bridge-Induced Selective Dual Polarization in Crystals for Stable Multi-Emitter

In the solid state, the molecular polarization of donor–acceptor (D–A) molecules can be implemented in a simple way via the use of an external polarizing source (e.g., an electric field). However, internal chemical polarization approaches are less studied due to difficulties related to controlling the charge-separation orientation in the solid state. Herein, a series of D–A molecules with both a proton donor and an acceptor were designed. Water-based molecular bridges were then established in their crystal structures, which firmly and alternately connected the proton donor of one molecule and the acceptor of another via an intermolecular H-bond network. In this way, the selective dual polarization of a phenolic hydroxyl group and a pyridinyl group could be achieved, owing to the strengthening of the charge-separation orientation upon the simultaneous deprotonation and protonation of the D–A molecules. This effect led to a 3–5-fold amplification of the molecular dipole moment in the crystal form relative to the monomeric state. On this basis, multi-excitation and multi-emission characteristics were achieved in these charge-separated crystals, endowing them with the ability to visually detect the energy of a light source, covering a wide range of the UV-Vis spectral region. This work provides a practical chemical approach for developing intrinsically polarized systems that can exhibit stable but distinct molecular photophysical properties.

In the solid state, the molecular polarization of donor–acceptor (D–A) molecules can be implemented by internal chemical polarization approaches.

Solvent-directed formation of helically twisted stacking constructs via self-assembly of tris(phenylisoxazolyl)benzene dimers

Ureido-pyrimidinone (UPy)-appended tris(phenylisoxazolyl)benzenes were synthesized. The UPy moieties of the tris(phenylisoxazolyl)benzenes stably formed self-complementary dimers in solution. The dimers self-assembled to form helically twisted stacking constructs in a process driven by π-π stacking interactions of UPy dimer moieties and dipole-dipole interactions of isoxazole units. Strong association affinity was seen within the stacking constructs compared with the previously reported isoxazole derivatives owing to the auxiliary π-π stacking interaction. Notably, tris(phenylisoxazolyl)benzenes showed an environmentally responsive nature. The absorption bands, emission intensities, and sizes of ensembles depended significantly on the mixing ratio of CHCl₃ and methylcyclohexane (MCH). Additionally, sharp on-off switching phenomena were seen in their circular dichroism (CD) and circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) spectra in response to the mixing ratio of CHCl₃ and MCH. CD and CPL were activated only at a certain mixing ratio of CHCl₃/MCH, thus showing potential for the creation of molecular sensors.

Pentadecaphenylenes: synthesis, self-assembly and complexation with fullerene C60

Macrocyclic pentadecaphenylene incorporates fullerene C₆₀ in its cavity to afford fibrous 2 : 1 and 1 : 1 sandwich complexes.

Excited-state intramolecular proton-transfer (ESIPT)-inspired solid state emitters

Solid state emitters based on excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) have been attracting considerable interest since the past few years in the field of optoelectronic devices because of their desirable unique photophysical properties. The photophysical properties of the solid state ESIPT fluorophores determine their possible applicability in functional materials. Less fluorescence quantum efficiencies and short fluorescence lifetime in the solid state are the shortcomings of the existing ESIPT solid state emitters. Designing of ESIPT chromophores with high fluorescence quantum efficiencies and a long fluorescence lifetime in the solid state is a challenging issue because of the unclear mechanism of the solid state emitters in the excited state. Reported design strategies, detailed photophysical properties, and their applications will help in assisting researchers to overcome existing challenges in designing novel solid state ESIPT fluorophores for promising applications. This review highlights recently developed solid state ESIPT emitters with focus on molecular design strategies and their photophysical properties, reported in the last five years.

Monoclinic to two-dimensional hexagonal transformation in hexacatenar molecules with a 1,2,3-triazole-based conjugated rod: morphology-dependent thermochromic behavior

Novel hexacatenar molecules based on a 1,2,3-triazole-extended aromatic rod self-assemble into crystalline monoclinic and liquid crystalline hexagonal columnar structures depending on temperature. The phase transition may involve a conformational change from an anisotropic transoid to a half-disk cisoid conformer upon melting. In a hexacatenar molecule with sixfold octyl chains, the crystal-to-LC transition accompanies a photoluminescence color change from sky blue to dark blue, which is attributed to the formation of higher-order aggregates in the crystalline state.

Bio-based ionic liquid crystalline quaternary ammonium salts: properties and applications

In the present work, we describe the preparation, properties, and applications of novel ionic liquid crystalline quaternary ammonium salts (QSs) of 3-pentadecylphenol, a bio-based low-cost material derived from cashew nut shell liquid. Amphotropic liquid crystalline phase formation in QSs was characterized using a combination of techniques, such as DSC, PLM, XRD, SEM, and rheology, which revealed the formation of one, two, and three dimensionally ordered mesophases in different length scales. On the basis of these results, a plausible mechanism for the formation of specific modes of packing in various mesophases was proposed. Observation of anisotropic ionic conductivity and electrochemical stability suggests their application as a solid electrolyte.

LCDiXRay: a user-friendly program for powder diffraction indexing of columnar liquid crystals

The formulation of a standard computerized procedure for the indexing of powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) patterns of columnar liquid crystals, with the determination of all structural information extracted from a properly indexed PXRD spectrum and the attribution of the columnar mesophase symmetry, is presented. In particular, the proposed program notably accelerates the identification of columnar mesophases together with thein situdetermination of their structural parameters such as mesophase type, space group, cell parameters, cross-section area, intermolecular stacking distance between consecutive discoids and, in the case of ordered mesophases, the estimation of the number of molecules constituting each discoid.

New 4-(2-(4-alkoxyphenyl)-6-methoxypyridin-4-yl)benzonitriles: synthesis, liquid crystalline behavior and photo physical properties

A new series of luminescent 4-(2-(4-alkoxyphenyl)-6-methoxypyridin-4-yl)benzonitriles containing three ring systems, with bent-core structures was synthesized as potential mesogens and characterized by spectral techniques.

AIE macromolecules: syntheses, structures and functionalities

A comprehensive review of macromolecules with aggregation-induced emission attributes is presented, covering the frontiers of syntheses, structures, functionalities and applications.

Advanced organic optoelectronic materials: harnessing excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) process

Recently, organic fluorescent molecules harnessing the excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) process are drawing great attention due to their unique photophysical properties which facilitate novel optoelectronic applications. After a brief introduction to the ESIPT process and related photo-physical properties, molecular design strategies towards tailored emission are discussed in relation to their theoretical aspects. Subsequently, recent studies on advanced ESIPT molecules and their optoelectronic applications are surveyed, particularly focusing on chemical sensors, fluorescence imaging, proton transfer lasers, and organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs).

Hydrogen-bonding-induced supramolecular liquid crystals and luminescent properties of europium-substituted polyoxometalate hybrids

Eu-containing polyoxometalates, Na9EuW10O36, K11Eu(PW11O39)2, and K13Eu(SiW11O39)2, were electrostatically canned by a cationic surfactant, N-[12-(4-carboxylphenoxy)dodecyl]-N-dodecyl-N,N-dimethylammonium bromide, through the replacement of counterions, and the resulting surfactant-encapsulated polyoxometalate complexes were characterized in detail by elemental analysis as well as IR and NMR spectra. The carboxyls bearing in the complexes were confirmed existing in the dimer state through intermolecular hydrogen bonding, which leads to stable and reversible thermotropic liquid crystal properties of these complexes. The results of differential scanning calorimetry, polarized optical microscopy, and X-ray diffraction revealed that these complexes underwent smectic mesophases during the heating and cooling cycles. These complexes displayed intrinsic luminescence both in the amorphous powder states and in their mesophases. The photophysical properties showed the dependence on the existing states of samples, and the quantum yields of the complexes in the liquid crystalline structures are higher than the corresponding amorphous powders. The present investigation provides an example for developing hydrogen-bonding-induced polyoxometalate-containing hybrid liquid crystal materials with intrinsic luminescence.

Nanoparticles, helical fibers, and nanoribbons of an achiral twin-tapered bi-1,3,4-oxadiazole derivative with strong fluorescence

A twin-tapered bi-1,3,4-oxadiazole derivative (BOXD-T8) showed a monomeric feature and intramolecular charge transition at concentrations lower than 10(-5) mol/L. BOXD-T8 molecules self-assembled to nanoparticles and further to helical nanofibers with blue fluorescence emission in DMSO, while nanoribbons resulted in an emission-enhanced gel in ethanol. The strong fluorescent emissions of BOXD-T8 in an isolated state in apolar solvents were attributed to the coplanar conformation of the rigid backbone and the strong fluorescent emissions of BOXD-T8 in the aggregation states were attributed to the coplanar conformation of the rigid backbone and J aggregation.

Self-assembly of discotic mesogens in solution and in liquid crystalline phases: effects of substituent position and hydrogen bonding

The effects of functional group position on the phase behavior of discotic mesogens was examined for a series of dibenzophenazine derivatives bearing a carboxylic acid, methyl carboxylate, or nitro group. In all cases, changing the position of the group from the "top" to the "side" of the aromatic core led to dramatic differences in the phase behavior, both in terms of the stability of the liquid crystalline phases as well as the types of mesophases formed. For the non-hydrogen bonding ester and nitro derivatives, moving the substituent to the side of the core led to a lowering of the clearing temperatures or loss of liquid crystallinity. Carboxylic acid derivatives exhibit broad mesophases irrespective of the position of the acid group, but mesogens bearing this group on the side of the core exclusively form Col(h) phases, whereas those with an acid group on the top of the core exhibit more varied mesomorphism, with the formation of Col(h), Col(r), and nematic phases. Contrary to expectations, the presence of a carboxylic acid group on the side of the core does not appear to lead to the formation of dimeric structures in the liquid crystalline phase, although the columnar structures appear to be stabilized by intermolecular hydrogen bonding along the columns. These derivatives also form pi-stacked dimers in solution; the structure of these dimers are consistent with the proposed structure of the columnar phases.