Novel Azocoumarin Derivatives—Synthesis and Characterization

The paper presents synthesis and characterization of nine new thiazolyl-(phenyldiazenyl)-2H-chromen-2-one dyes. The impact of substituent structure in thiazole ring in the synthesized azocoumarin derivatives on electrochemical properties, photoisomerization process and photovoltaic response was examined. The dyes were electrochemically active and undergo reduction and oxidation processes. They showed low electrochemically estimated energy band gap in the range of 1.71–2.13 eV. Photoisomerization process of the synthesized molecules was studied in various solvents such as ethanol, chloroform and N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) upon the UV illumination. It was found that novel azodyes showed reversible trans-cis-trans isomerization and exhibited long thermal back to the trans form, that was even 7 days in DMF. Selected azocoumarin were molecularly dispersed in polystyrene for preparation of guest-host azopolymer systems to study the cis-trans thermal isomerization of obtained dyes in solid state. The photovoltaic activity of the azochromophores was tested in bulk-heterojunction solar cells. They acting as weak donors in device with structure ITO/PEDOT:PSS/dye:PC70BM/Al. No photovoltaic response of cells with azocoumarin derivatives bearing 4-fluorobenzene, 3,4-dichlorobenzene, or 4-(1-adamantyl) unit was found. Additionally, dye which showed the best activity was examined in three-component solar cells ITO/PEDOT:PSS/PTB7:PC70BM:dye/PFN/Al.

Spectroscopic and structural properties of CeO2 nanocrystals doped with La3+, Nd3+ and modified on their surface with Ag nanoparticles

The purpose of this work is to present our efforts focused on applications of chemical synthesis of nanocrystalline cerium dioxide (CeO₂) powders doped with La³⁺ ions and CeO₂:Nd³⁺ modified, on their surface, with Ag nanoparticles (NPs). The synthesized powders were examined by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), absorption, emission spectroscopy, scanning electron (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The relations between crystallographic properties and stability of CeO₂ compounds doped by La ions and surface-modified by Ag were studied. XRD patterns revealed that all studied samples are single-phase and crystallized in the cubic fluorite-type structure, in space group Fm-3m. The average crystallite sizes estimated by Rietveld method of series: La-doped CeO₂ were in the range of 7–14 nm, and CeO₂:1%Nd³⁺/n-Ag (n: 1- 5wt.%) were found to be in the range of 29–34 nm, respectively. The lattice parameter a for La-doped CeO₂ powders varying from 5.416 to 5.482 Å with increasing content of La³⁺ ions from 0 to 20wt.%, respectively. For series of CeO₂:Nd³⁺/n-Ag materials lattice parameter a was at the same level and in accordance with the standard value a₀ = 5.411 Å (ICDD - 43-1002). The SEM and AFM observations depicted the grainy structure of all obtained CeO₂-powder samples. The estimated grain size ranged from 50 to 500 nm. The diverse grain shapes and packing was remarked in the samples. According to our knowledge, the relationship between the structural, spectroscopic and morphological characteristics of CeO₂ samples was presented in this work for the first time.

Chiral Photoresponsive Liquid Crystalline Materials Derived from Cyanoazobenzene Central Core: Effect of UV Light Illumination on Mesomorphic Behavior

One of the most frequently utilized liquid crystalline (LC) materials is a rod-like (calamitic) compound 4-cyano-4′-pentylbiphenyl (5-CB). The main objective of this work is to enhance its functionality by introducing a photoresponsive diazenyl spacer in the aromatic core and replace the non-chiral pentyl chain with various chiral alkyl carboxylate units. The mesomorphic properties of the prepared materials have been studied using polarizing optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. It has been found that materials with an extended aromatic system possess the liquid crystalline behavior. The studied LC materials have shown mesophases at lower temperatures than previously reported analogous substances. Furthermore, one of them exhibits a chiral orthogonal frustrated twist grain boundary smectic phase, which has not been previously observed for this structural type of materials. We also investigated photoresponse of the mesophases under illumination with UV-light (365 nm) using a polarizing optical microscope. A non-conventional photoresponse of the prepared materials in a crystalline phase is presented and discussed.

Self-Assembling Behavior of Smart Nanocomposite System: Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal Confined by Stretched Porous Polyethylene Film

The control and prediction of soft systems exhibiting self-organization behavior can be realized by different means but still remains a highlighted task. Novel advanced nanocomposite system has been designed by filling of a stretched porous polyethylene (PE) film with pore dimensions of hundreds of nanometers by chiral ferroelectric liquid crystalline (LC) compound possessing polar self-assembling behavior. Lactic acid derivative exhibiting the paraelectric orthogonal smectic A* and the ferroelectric tilted smectic C* phases over a broad temperature range is used as a self-assembling compound. The morphology of nanocomposite film has been checked by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). The designed nanocomposite has been studied by polarizing optical microscopy (POM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), small and wide-angle X-ray scattering and broadband dielectric spectroscopy. The effect of a porous PE confinement on self-assembling, structural, and dielectric behavior of the chiral LC compound has been established and discussed. While the mesomorphic and structural properties of the nanocomposite are found not to be much influenced in comparison to that of a pure LC compound, the polar properties have been toughly suppressed by the specific confinement. Nevertheless, the electro-optic switching was clearly observed under applied electric field of low frequency (210 V, 19 Hz). The dielectric spectroscopy and X-ray results reveal that the helical structure of the ferroelectric liquid crystal inside the PE matrix is completely unwound, and the molecules are aligned along stretching direction. Obtained results demonstrate possibilities of using stretched porous polyolefins as promising matrices for the design of new nanocomposites.

Optical orientation of nematic liquid crystal droplets via photoisomerization of an azodendrimer dopant

Two sequential transformations of the orientational structure in nematic liquid crystal droplets containing a dendrimer additive (nanosized macromolecules with light-absorbing azobenzene terminal moieties) under light irradiation in the UV-blue spectral range were investigated. The origin of these transitions is in the change of the boundary conditions due to photoisomerization of the dendrimer adsorbed onto the liquid crystal-glycerol interface. It was shown that the photoisomerization processes of dendrimer molecules in a liquid crystal are accompanied by a spatial rearrangement of their azobenzene moieties, which is the key point in the explanation of the observed effects.

Scientific developments of liquid crystal-based optical memory: a review

The memory behavior in liquid crystals (LCs), although rarely observed, has made very significant headway over the past three decades since their discovery in nematic type LCs. It has gone from a mere scientific curiosity to application in variety of commodities. The memory element formed by numerous LCs have been protected by patents, and some commercialized, and used as compensation to non-volatile memory devices, and as memory in personal computers and digital cameras. They also have the low cost, large area, high speed, and high density memory needed for advanced computers and digital electronics. Short and long duration memory behavior for industrial applications have been obtained from several LC materials, and an LC memory with interesting features and applications has been demonstrated using numerous LCs. However, considerable challenges still exist in searching for highly efficient, stable, and long-lifespan materials and methods so that the development of useful memory devices is possible. This review focuses on the scientific and technological approach of fascinating applications of LC-based memory. We address the introduction, development status, novel design and engineering principles, and parameters of LC memory. We also address how the amalgamation of LCs could bring significant change/improvement in memory effects in the emerging field of nanotechnology, and the application of LC memory as the active component for futuristic and interesting memory devices.