Supramolecular Structure and Photo-Thermo-Electric Property of Hydrogen-Bonded Liquid Crystalline Polymer Containing Poly(4-vinylpridine) and Cyanostilbene Side Chains

A series of side-chain liquid crystalline polymers P4VP(CN-DBE)_x , where x is the molar ratio of cyanostilbene (CN-DBE) to poly(4-vinylpyridine) (P4VP) repeating unit, was synthesized based on the intermolecular hydrogen bonding between P4VP and CN-DBE. Their luminescent property, liquid crystalline structure and photo-thermo-electric property were elucidated using photoluminescence spectra, X-ray diffraction, thermal imaging and thermoelectric experiments. With the increase of x, the supramolecular system can be changed from lamellar structure to hexagonal columnar structure. Moreover, the P4VP(CN-DBE)_x polymer with columnar structure exhibits more efficient photothermal effect. The temperature of P4VP(CN-DBE)_0.6 can rise to 130 °C within 10 s under the irradiation of ultraviolet lamp. In addition, the supramolecular system possesses unique photo-thermo-electric conversion ability, and 25 mA current can be detected in the circuit coupled with the thermoelectric module. This work broadens the potential applications of hydrogen-bonded polymer, and provides a simple and facile strategy to prepare liquid crystalline polymers with photo-thermo-electric property.

Peripherally Modified Tetraphenylethene: Emerging as a Room-Temperature Luminescent Disc-Like Nematic Liquid Crystal

A blue-light-emitting liquid crystalline (LC) material was designed and prepared. By employing a twisted luminescent core (i.e., tetraphenylethene), four peripheral LC units with long alkyl chains and the small polar benzyl-ether-typed linking groups, the resulting material displayed a hexagonal columnar phase near room temperature and a disc-like nematic phase between 32 and 70 °C. The columnar LC showed a high quantum yield of 0.49 at 20 °C, and the efficient luminescence property was retained even in the isotropic phase at high temperature. Additionally, the fluidity of the nematic phase rendered the LC a non-volatile solvent, and the proper addition of a red dye led to the achievement of polarized white-light emission, which revealed a promising application prospect in LC display fabrication.

Cooperatively assembled liquid crystals enable temperature-controlled Förster resonance energy transfer

Balancing the rigidity of a π-conjugated structure for strong emission and the flexibility of liquid crystals for self-assembly is the key to realizing highly emissive liquid crystals (HELCs). Here we show that (1) integrating organization-induced emission into dual molecular cooperatively-assembled liquid crystals, (2) amplifying mesogens, and (3) elongating the spacer linking the emitter and the mesogen create advanced materials with desired thermal–optical properties. Impressively, assembling the fluorescent acceptor Nile red into its host donor designed according to the aforementioned strategies results in a temperature-controlled Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) system. Indeed, FRET exhibits strong S-curve dependence as temperature sweeps through the liquid crystal phase transformation. Such thermochromic materials, suitable for dynamic thermo-optical sensing and modulation, are anticipated to unlock new and smart approaches for controlling and directing light in stimuli-responsive devices.

A temperature-sensitive Förster resonance energy transfer system was constructed using a highly emissive liquid crystal co-assembled with Nile red, enabling thermo-optical modulation for controlling and directing light in stimuli-responsive devices.

Silica covering driven intensity enhancement and handedness inversion of the CPL signals of the supramolecular assemblies

Dipeptide-based hybrid materials with enhanced and inversed circularly polarized luminescence signals were fabricated through a dynamic supramolecular templating approach.

A hydrogen bond cross-linked luminescent supramolecular network polymer and its application for the detection of alkyl iodides with differentiation capabilities from aromatic iodides

A luminescent supramolecular polymer consisting of poly(4-vinyl pyridine) and perylene diimide was prepared through a H-bond cross-linking strategy and used for alkyl iodide sensing.

Highly ordered supramolecular structure built from poly(4-(4-vinylphenylpyridine)) and 1,1′-ferrocenedicarboxylic acid via hydrogen bonding

A molecular-level ordered supramolecular nanostructure is formed of P4VPPy and FDA, using a solvent vapor thermal annealing process that initiates hydrogen bonding directed self-assembly.

Design, synthesis and properties of hemiphasmidic luminescent liquid crystal polymers with the AIEE effect

Novel hemiphasmidic side-chain luminescent liquid crystal polymers with different self-assembly structures and fluorescence properties have been prepared and investigated.

Hydrogen bonding liquid crystalline benzoic acids with alkylthio groups: phase transition behavior and insights into the cybotactic nematic phase

A novel class of hydrogen bonding liquid crystalline benzoic acids with alkylthio groups was established and their phase transition behavior was investigated in detail.

Light emission properties and self-assembly of a tolane-based luminogen

Fluorescent micro/nanostructures were formed by self-assembly of a tolane derivative with intramolecular charge transfer and aggregation-induced emission properties.

Assembly of thioether-containing rod-like liquid crystalline materials assisted by hydrogen-bonding terminal carboxyl groups

A hydrogen-bonding-tolane-based liquid crystalline material with an alkylsulfanyl group was synthesized, which exhibited a long-range correlated mesophase compared with analogs with alkyl and alkoxy groups.