1
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Zhang RB, Grunwald MA, Zeng XB, Laschat S, Cammidge AN, Ungar G. Orientational transitions of discotic columnar liquid crystals in cylindrical pores. SOFT MATTER 2024; 20:6193-6203. [PMID: 39045629 DOI: 10.1039/d4sm00621f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/25/2024]
Abstract
Confined in a cylindrical pore with homeotropic anchoring condition, the hexagonal columnar phase of discotic liquid crystals can form a "log-pile" configuration, in which the columns are perpendicular to the long axis of the pore. However, the {100} planes of the hexagonal lattice can orient either parallel (termed (100)‖ orientation) or perpendicular ((100)⊥) to pore axis. Here we experimentally show that the (100)‖ orientation is found in narrower cylindrical pores, and the (100)‖-(100)⊥ transition can be controlled by engineering the structure of the molecules. The (100)‖ orientation is destroyed in asymmetric discotics hepta(heptenyloxy)triphenylene (SATO7); replacing the oxygen linkage in hexa(hexyloxy)triphenylene (HATO6) by sulphur (HATS6) improves the (100)‖ orientation in small pores; adding a perfluorooctyl end to each alkyl chain of HATO6 (HATO6F8) moves the (100)‖-(100)⊥ transition to larger pores. We have provided a semi-quantitative explanation of the experimental observations, and discussed them in the context of previous findings on related materials in a wider pore size range from 60 nm to 100 μm. This allows us to produce a comprehensive picture of confined columnar liquid crystals whose applications critically depend on our ability to align them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui-Bin Zhang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S1 3Jd, UK.
| | - Marco A Grunwald
- Institut für Organische Chemie, Universität Stuttgart, D-70569 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Xiang-Bing Zeng
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S1 3Jd, UK.
| | - Sabine Laschat
- Institut für Organische Chemie, Universität Stuttgart, D-70569 Stuttgart, Germany
| | | | - Goran Ungar
- Shaanxi International Research Center for Soft Materials, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China.
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2
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Li Z, Raab A, Kolmangadi MA, Busch M, Grunwald M, Demel F, Bertram F, Kityk AV, Schönhals A, Laschat S, Huber P. Self-Assembly of Ionic Superdiscs in Nanopores. ACS NANO 2024; 18:14414-14426. [PMID: 38760015 PMCID: PMC11155240 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.4c01062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
Discotic ionic liquid crystals (DILCs) consist of self-assembled superdiscs of cations and anions that spontaneously stack in linear columns with high one-dimensional ionic and electronic charge mobility, making them prominent model systems for functional soft matter. Compared to classical nonionic discotic liquid crystals, many liquid crystalline structures with a combination of electronic and ionic conductivity have been reported, which are of interest for separation membranes, artificial ion/proton conducting membranes, and optoelectronics. Unfortunately, a homogeneous alignment of the DILCs on the macroscale is often not achievable, which significantly limits the applicability of DILCs. Infiltration into nanoporous solid scaffolds can, in principle, overcome this drawback. However, due to the experimental challenges to scrutinize liquid crystalline order in extreme spatial confinement, little is known about the structures of DILCs in nanopores. Here, we present temperature-dependent high-resolution optical birefringence measurement and 3D reciprocal space mapping based on synchrotron X-ray scattering to investigate the thermotropic phase behavior of dopamine-based ionic liquid crystals confined in cylindrical channels of 180 nm diameter in macroscopic anodic aluminum oxide membranes. As a function of the membranes' hydrophilicity and thus the molecular anchoring to the pore walls (edge-on or face-on) and the variation of the hydrophilic-hydrophobic balance between the aromatic cores and the alkyl side chain motifs of the superdiscs by tailored chemical synthesis, we find a particularly rich phase behavior, which is not present in the bulk state. It is governed by a complex interplay of liquid crystalline elastic energies (bending and splay deformations), polar interactions, and pure geometric confinement and includes textural transitions between radial and axial alignment of the columns with respect to the long nanochannel axis. Furthermore, confinement-induced continuous order formation is observed in contrast to discontinuous first-order phase transitions, which can be quantitatively described by Landau-de Gennes free energy models for liquid crystalline order transitions in confinement. Our observations suggest that the infiltration of DILCs into nanoporous solids allows tailoring their nanoscale texture and ion channel formation and thus their electrical and optical functionalities over an even wider range than in the bulk state in a homogeneous manner on the centimeter scale as controlled by the monolithic nanoporous scaffolds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuoqing Li
- Institute
for Materials and X-ray Physics, Hamburg
University of Technology, Denickestr. 15, 21073 Hamburg, Germany
- Centre
for X-ray and Nano Science CXNS, Deutsches
Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestr. 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Aileen Raab
- Institut
für Organische Chemie, Universität
Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 55, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Mohamed Aejaz Kolmangadi
- Bundesanstalt
für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM), Unter den Eichen 87, 12205 Berlin, Germany
| | - Mark Busch
- Institute
for Materials and X-ray Physics, Hamburg
University of Technology, Denickestr. 15, 21073 Hamburg, Germany
- Centre
for X-ray and Nano Science CXNS, Deutsches
Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestr. 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Marco Grunwald
- Institut
für Organische Chemie, Universität
Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 55, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Felix Demel
- Institut
für Organische Chemie, Universität
Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 55, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Florian Bertram
- Deutsches
Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestr. 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Andriy V. Kityk
- Faculty of
Electrical Engineering, Czestochowa University
of Technology, Al. Armii
Krajowej 17, 42-200 Czestochowa, Poland
| | - Andreas Schönhals
- Bundesanstalt
für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM), Unter den Eichen 87, 12205 Berlin, Germany
- Institut
für Chemie, Technische Universität
Berlin, Straße des
17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin, Germany
| | - Sabine Laschat
- Institut
für Organische Chemie, Universität
Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 55, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Patrick Huber
- Institute
for Materials and X-ray Physics, Hamburg
University of Technology, Denickestr. 15, 21073 Hamburg, Germany
- Centre
for X-ray and Nano Science CXNS, Deutsches
Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestr. 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
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3
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Emamverdi F, Huang J, Razavi NM, Bojdys MJ, Foster AB, Budd PM, Böhning M, Schönhals A. Molecular Mobility and Gas Transport Properties of Mixed Matrix Membranes Based on PIM-1 and a Phosphinine Containing Covalent Organic Framework. Macromolecules 2024; 57:1829-1845. [PMID: 38435679 PMCID: PMC10902888 DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.3c02419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Polymers with intrinsic microporosity (PIMs) are gaining attention as gas separation membranes. Nevertheless, they face limitations due to their pronounced physical aging. In this study, a covalent organic framework containing λ5-phosphinine moieties, CPSF-EtO, was incorporated as a nanofiller (concentration range 0-10 wt %) into a PIM-1 matrix forming dense films with a thickness of ca. 100 μm. The aim of the investigation was to investigate possible enhancements of gas transport properties and mitigating effects on physical aging. The incorporation of the nanofiller occurred on an nanoaggregate level with domains up to 100 nm, as observed by T-SEM and confirmed by X-ray scattering. Moreover, the X-ray data show that the structure of the microporous network of the PIM-1 matrix is changed by the nanofiller. As molecular mobility is fundamental for gas transport as well as for physical aging, the study includes dielectric investigations of pure PIM-1 and PIM-1/CPSF-EtO mixed matrix membranes to establish a correlation between the molecular mobility and the gas transport properties. Using the time-lag method, the gas permeability and the permselectivity were determined for N2, O2, CH4, and CO2 for samples with variation in filler content. A significant increase in the permeability of CH4 and CO2 (50% increase compared to pure PIM-1) was observed for a concentration of 5 wt % of the nanofiller. Furthermore, the most pronounced change in the permselectivity was found for the gas pair CO2/N2 at a filler concentration of 7 wt %.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farnaz Emamverdi
- Bundesanstalt
für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM), Unter den Eichen 87, Berlin 12205, Germany
| | - Jieyang Huang
- Department
of Chemistry, Humboldt University, Brook-Taylor Straße 2, Berlin 12489, Germany
| | - Negar Mosane Razavi
- Bundesanstalt
für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM), Unter den Eichen 87, Berlin 12205, Germany
| | - Michael J. Bojdys
- Department
of Chemistry, Humboldt University, Brook-Taylor Straße 2, Berlin 12489, Germany
| | - Andrew B. Foster
- School
of Chemistry, University of Manchester, Manchester M 13 9PL, United Kingdom
| | - Peter M. Budd
- School
of Chemistry, University of Manchester, Manchester M 13 9PL, United Kingdom
| | - Martin Böhning
- Bundesanstalt
für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM), Unter den Eichen 87, Berlin 12205, Germany
| | - Andreas Schönhals
- Bundesanstalt
für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM), Unter den Eichen 87, Berlin 12205, Germany
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4
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Salgado-Blanco D, Díaz-Herrera E, Martínez-González JA, Mendoza CI. Phase transitions and topological defects in discotic liquid crystal droplets with planar anchoring: a Monte Carlo simulation study. SOFT MATTER 2023; 19:5916-5924. [PMID: 37485668 DOI: 10.1039/d3sm00534h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
In this work we present the results of Monte Carlo (MC) simulations at the isothermal-isobaric ensemble for a discotic liquid crystal (DLC) droplet whose surface promotes edge-on (planar) anchoring. For a given pressure, we simulate an annealing process that enables observation of phase transitions within the spherical droplet. In particular, we report a first order isotropic-nematic transition as well as a nematic-columnar transition at the center of the droplet. We found the appearance of topological defects consisting of two disclination lines with ends at the surface of the sphere. We also observed that both transitions, isotropic-nematic and nematic-columnar, occur at lower temperatures as compared to the unconfined system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Salgado-Blanco
- División de Materiales Avanzados, IPICYT, Camino a la Presa San José 2055, 78216, San Luis Potosí, S. L. P. 78216, Mexico
- CONACyT - Centro Nacional de Supercómputo, IPICYT, Camino a la Presa San José 2055, 78216, San Luis Potosí, S. L. P. 78216, Mexico.
| | - Enrique Díaz-Herrera
- Departamento de Física, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, Ave. San Rafael Atlixco 186, Col. Vicentina, 09340 México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - José A Martínez-González
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Parque Chapultepec 1570, San Luis Potosí, 78210 SLP, Mexico.
| | - Carlos I Mendoza
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Materiales, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apdo. Postal 70-360, 04510 México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
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5
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Yildirim A, Krause C, Huber P, Schönhals A. Multiple glassy dynamics of a homologous series of triphenylene-based columnar liquid crystals – A study by broadband dielectric spectroscopy and advanced calorimetry. J Mol Liq 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2022.119212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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6
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Park K, Hyeon S, Kang KM, Eum K, Kim J, Kim DW, Jung HT. Long-Range alignment of liquid crystalline small molecules on Metal-Organic framework micropores by physical anchoring. J IND ENG CHEM 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jiec.2021.09.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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7
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Abstract
Smart soft materials are envisioned to be the building blocks of the next generation of advanced devices and digitally augmented technologies. In this context, liquid crystals (LCs) owing to their responsive and adaptive attributes could serve as promising smart soft materials. LCs played a critical role in revolutionizing the information display industry in the 20th century. However, in the turn of the 21st century, numerous beyond-display applications of LCs have been demonstrated, which elegantly exploit their controllable stimuli-responsive and adaptive characteristics. For these applications, new LC materials have been rationally designed and developed. In this Review, we present the recent developments in light driven chiral LCs, i.e., cholesteric and blue phases, LC based smart windows that control the entrance of heat and light from outdoor to the interior of buildings and built environments depending on the weather conditions, LC elastomers for bioinspired, biological, and actuator applications, LC based biosensors for detection of proteins, nucleic acids, and viruses, LC based porous membranes for the separation of ions, molecules, and microbes, living LCs, and LCs under macro- and nanoscopic confinement. The Review concludes with a summary and perspectives on the challenges and opportunities for LCs as smart soft materials. This Review is anticipated to stimulate eclectic ideas toward the implementation of the nature's delicate phase of matter in future generations of smart and augmented devices and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hari Krishna Bisoyi
- Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute and Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 44242, United States
| | - Quan Li
- Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute and Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 44242, United States.,Institute of Advanced Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, and Jiangsu Hi-Tech Key Laboratory for Biomedical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China
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8
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Kityk AV, Nowak M, Reben M, Pawlik P, Lelonek M, Andrushchak A, Shchur Y, Andrushchak N, Huber P. Dynamic Kerr and Pockels electro-optics of liquid crystals in nanopores for active photonic metamaterials. NANOSCALE 2021; 13:18714-18725. [PMID: 34739018 PMCID: PMC8601124 DOI: 10.1039/d1nr04282c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Photonic metamaterials with properties unattainable in base materials are already beginning to revolutionize optical component design. However, their exceptional characteristics are often static, as artificially engineered into the material during the fabrication process. This limits their application for in-operando adjustable optical devices and active optics in general. Here, for a hybrid material consisting of a liquid crystal-infused nanoporous solid, we demonstrate active and dynamic control of its meta-optics by applying alternating electric fields parallel to the long axes of its cylindrical pores. First-harmonic Pockels and second-harmonic Kerr birefringence responses, strongly depending on the excitation frequency and temperature, are observed in a frequency range from 50 Hz to 50 kHz. This peculiar behavior is quantitatively traced by a Landau-De Gennes free energy analysis to an order-disorder orientational transition of the rod-like mesogens and intimately related changes in the molecular mobilities and polar anchoring at the solid walls on the single-pore, meta-atomic scale. Thus, our study provides evidence that liquid crystal-infused nanopores exhibit integrated multi-physical couplings and reversible phase changes that make them particularly promising for the design of photonic metamaterials with thermo-electrically tunable birefringence in the emerging field of space-time metamaterials aiming at full spatio-temporal control of light.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andriy V Kityk
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Czestochowa University of Technology, Al. Armii Krajowej 17, 42-200 Czestochowa, Poland.
| | - Marcjan Nowak
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Czestochowa University of Technology, Al. Armii Krajowej 17, 42-200 Czestochowa, Poland.
| | - Manuela Reben
- Faculty of Materials Science and Ceramics, AGH-University of Science and Technology, al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Cracow, Poland
| | - Piotr Pawlik
- Faculty of Production Engineering and Materials Science, Czestochowa University of Technology, Al. Armii Krajowej 19, 42-200 Czestochowa, Poland
| | - Monika Lelonek
- SmartMembranes GmbH, Heinrich-Damerow-Str. 4, 06120 Halle(Saale), Germany
| | - Anatoliy Andrushchak
- Department of Applied Physics and Nanomaterials Science, Lviv Polytechnic National University, 12 Bandery Str., Lviv 79013, Ukraine
| | - Yaroslav Shchur
- Institute for Condensed Matter Physics, 1 Svientsitskii str., 79011 Lviv, Ukraine
| | - Nazariy Andrushchak
- Department of Computer-Aided Design Systems, Lviv Polytechnic National University, 12 Bandery Str., Lviv 79013, Ukraine
- Private Enterprise SoftPartners, 97 Konovalca str., 79057 Lviv, Ukraine
| | - Patrick Huber
- Hamburg University of Technology, Institute for Materials and X-Ray Physics, 21073 Hamburg, Germany.
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Centre for X-Ray and Nano Science CXNS, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
- Hamburg University, Centre for Hybrid Nanostructures CHyN, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
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9
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Kityk AV, Gor GY, Huber P. Adsorption from binary liquid solutions into mesoporous silica: a capacitance isotherm on 5CB nematogen/cyclohexane mixtures. Mol Phys 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/00268976.2021.1909160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Andriy V. Kityk
- Institute for Materials and X-Ray Physics, Hamburg University of Technology, Hamburg, Germany
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Czestochowa University of Technology, Czestochowa, Poland
| | - Gennady Y. Gor
- Otto H. York Department Chemical and Materials Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, University Heights, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Patrick Huber
- Institute for Materials and X-Ray Physics, Hamburg University of Technology, Hamburg, Germany
- High-Resolution X-Ray Analytics of Materials Research Group, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Hamburg, Germany
- Centre for Hybrid Nanostructures CHyN, Hamburg University, Hamburg, Germany
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10
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Jasiurkowska-Delaporte M, Juszyńska-Gałązka E, Sas W, Zieliński PM, Baranowska-Korczyc A. Soft versus hard confinement effects on the phase transitions, and intra- and inter- molecular dynamics of 6BT liquid crystal constrained in electrospun polymer fibers and in nanopores. J Mol Liq 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2021.115817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
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11
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Pauw BR, Smith AJ, Snow T, Shebanova O, Sutter JP, Ilavsky J, Hermida-Merino D, Smales GJ, Terrill NJ, Thünemann AF, Bras W. Extending synchrotron SAXS instrument ranges through addition of a portable, inexpensive USAXS module with vertical rotation axes. JOURNAL OF SYNCHROTRON RADIATION 2021; 28:824-833. [PMID: 33949990 PMCID: PMC8127376 DOI: 10.1107/s1600577521003313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Ultra-SAXS can enhance the capabilities of existing synchrotron SAXS/WAXS beamlines. A compact ultra-SAXS module has been developed, which extends the measurable q-range with 0.0015 ≤ q (nm-1) ≤ 0.2, allowing structural dimensions in the range 30 ≤ D (nm) ≤ 4000 to be probed in addition to the range covered by a high-end SAXS/WAXS instrument. By shifting the module components in and out on their respective motor stages, SAXS/WAXS measurements can be easily and rapidly interleaved with USAXS measurements. The use of vertical crystal rotation axes (horizontal diffraction) greatly simplifies the construction, at minimal cost to efficiency. In this paper, the design considerations, realization and synchrotron findings are presented. Measurements of silica spheres, an alumina membrane, and a porous carbon catalyst are provided as application examples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian R. Pauw
- Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM), 12205 Berlin, Germany
| | - Andrew J. Smith
- Diamond Light Source Ltd, Diamond House, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
| | - Tim Snow
- Diamond Light Source Ltd, Diamond House, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
| | - Olga Shebanova
- Diamond Light Source Ltd, Diamond House, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
| | - John P. Sutter
- Diamond Light Source Ltd, Diamond House, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
| | - Jan Ilavsky
- Advanced Photon Source (APS), Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL 60439, USA
| | - Daniel Hermida-Merino
- Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO), Dutch–Belgian Beamlines at the ESRF, Grenoble, France
| | - Glen J. Smales
- Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM), 12205 Berlin, Germany
| | - Nicholas J. Terrill
- Diamond Light Source Ltd, Diamond House, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
| | | | - Wim Bras
- Chemical Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
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12
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Kang K, Eremin A. Solvent-dependent morphology and anisotropic microscopic dynamics of cellulose nanocrystals under electric fields. Phys Rev E 2021; 103:032606. [PMID: 33862807 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.103.032606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are interesting for the construction of biomaterials for energy delivery and packaging purposes. The corresponding processing of CNCs can be optimized through the variation of intercellulose interactions by employing different types of solvents, and thereby varying the degree of cellulose hydrogen bonding. The aim of this work is (i) to show how different types of solvents affect the self-assembled morphology of CNCs, (ii) to study the microscopic dynamics and averaged orientations on the CNCs in aqueous suspensions, including the effect of externally imposed electric fields, and (iii) to explore the nonlinear optical response of CNCs. The homogeneity of self-assembled chiral-nematic phase depends on both the polarity of the solvent and the CNC concentration. The variation of the chiral-nematic pitch length with concentration, as determined from real-space and Fourier images, is found to be strongly solvent dependent. The anisotropic microdynamics of CNCs suspension exhibits two modes, related to diffusion parallel and perpendicular to the (chiral-) nematic director. We have found also the coupling between translational and orientational motion, due to existing correlation length of twisted nematic elasticity. Preliminary second-harmonic generation experiments are performed, which reveal that relatively high field strengths are required to reorient chiral-nematic domains of CNCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyongok Kang
- Forschungszentrum Jülich, Institute of Biological Information Processing, IBI-4:Biomacromolecular Systems and Processes, Jülich 52428, Germany
| | - Alexey Eremin
- Department of Nonlinear Phenomena, Institute for Experimental Physics, Otto von Güricke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg 39016, Germany
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13
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Domagalski JT, Xifre-Perez E, Marsal LF. Recent Advances in Nanoporous Anodic Alumina: Principles, Engineering, and Applications. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 11:430. [PMID: 33567787 PMCID: PMC7914664 DOI: 10.3390/nano11020430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The development of aluminum anodization technology features many stages. With the story stretching for almost a century, rather straightforward-from current perspective-technology, raised into an iconic nanofabrication technique. The intrinsic properties of alumina porous structures constitute the vast utility in distinct fields. Nanoporous anodic alumina can be a starting point for: Templates, photonic structures, membranes, drug delivery platforms or nanoparticles, and more. Current state of the art would not be possible without decades of consecutive findings, during which, step by step, the technique was more understood. This review aims at providing an update regarding recent discoveries-improvements in the fabrication technology, a deeper understanding of the process, and a practical application of the material-providing a narrative supported with a proper background.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Lluis F. Marsal
- Departament d’Enginyeria Electrònica, Elèctrica i Automàtica, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Avinguda dels Països Catalans, 26, 43007 Tarragona, Spain; (J.T.D.); (E.X.-P.)
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14
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Electrical Conductivity and Multiple Glassy Dynamics of Crown Ether-Based Columnar Liquid Crystals. J Phys Chem B 2020; 124:8728-8739. [PMID: 32902985 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.0c06854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The phase behavior of two unsymmetrical triphenylene crown ether-based columnar liquid crystals bearing different lengths of alkyl chains, KAL465 and KAL468, was investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). A plastic crystalline (Cry), a columnar liquid crystalline (Colh), and an isotropic phase were observed along with two glass transitions in the Cry phase. The molecular mobility of the KAL compounds was further studied by a combination of broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS) and advanced calorimetric techniques. By the BDS investigations, three dielectric active relaxation processes were observed for both samples. At low temperatures, a γ-process in the Cry state was detected and is assigned to the localized fluctuations taking place in the alkyl chains. An α2-process takes place at higher temperatures in the Cry phase. An α3-process was found in the Colh mesophase. The advanced calorimetric techniques consist of fast scanning calorimetry (FSC) and specific heat spectroscopy employing temperature-modulated DSC and FSC. The advanced calorimetric investigations revealed that besides the α2-process in agreement with BDS, there is a second dynamic glass transition (α1-process), which is not observed by dielectric spectroscopy. The results are in good agreement with the glass transitions detected by DSC for this process. The temperature dependences of the relaxation rates of the α1-, α2-, and α3-processes are all different. Therefore, different molecular assignments for the relaxation processes are proposed. In addition to the relaxation processes, a conductivity contribution was explored by BDS for both KAL compounds. The conductivity contribution appears in both Cry and Colh phases, where the conductivity increases by ca. 1 order of magnitude at phase transition from the Cry to the hexagonal phase.
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Jasiurkowska-Delaporte M, Juszyńska-Gałązka E, Zieliński PM, Marzec M. Studies of molecular dynamics and non-isothermal crystallization process of 4-n-butyloxybenzylidene-4′-n'-octylaniline (BBOA) liquid crystal under two dimensional nano-confinement. J Mol Liq 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2020.113039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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16
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Sentker K, Yildirim A, Lippmann M, Zantop AW, Bertram F, Hofmann T, Seeck OH, Kityk AV, Mazza MG, Schönhals A, Huber P. Self-assembly of liquid crystals in nanoporous solids for adaptive photonic metamaterials. NANOSCALE 2019; 11:23304-23317. [PMID: 31788679 DOI: 10.1039/c9nr07143a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Nanoporous media exhibit structures significantly smaller than the wavelengths of visible light and can thus act as photonic metamaterials. Their optical functionality is not determined by the properties of the base materials, but rather by tailored, multiscale structures, in terms of precise pore shape, geometry, and orientation. Embedding liquid crystals in pore space provides additional opportunities to control light-matter interactions at the single-pore, meta-atomic scale. Here, we present temperature-dependent 3D reciprocal space mapping using synchrotron-based X-ray diffraction in combination with high-resolution birefringence experiments on disk-like mesogens (HAT6) imbibed in self-ordered arrays of parallel cylindrical pores 17 to 160 nm across in monolithic anodic aluminium oxide (AAO). In agreement with Monte Carlo computer simulations we observe a remarkably rich self-assembly behaviour, unknown from the bulk state. It encompasses transitions between the isotropic liquid state and discotic stacking in linear columns as well as circular concentric ring formation perpendicular and parallel to the pore axis. These textural transitions underpin an optical birefringence functionality, tuneable in magnitude and in sign from positive to negative via pore size, pore surface-grafting and temperature. Our study demonstrates that the advent of large-scale, self-organised nanoporosity in monolithic solids along with confinement-controllable phase behaviour of liquid-crystalline matter at the single-pore scale provides a reliable and accessible tool to design materials with adjustable optical anisotropy, and thus offers versatile pathways to fine-tune polarisation-dependent light propagation speeds in materials. Such a tailorability is at the core of the emerging field of transformative optics, allowing, e.g., adjustable light absorbers and extremely thin metalenses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathrin Sentker
- Institute of Materials Physics and Technology, Hamburg University of Technology, 21073 Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Arda Yildirim
- Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM), Unter den Eichen 87, D-12205 Berlin, Germany
| | - Milena Lippmann
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestrasse 85, D-22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Arne W Zantop
- Max-Planck-Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Am Faßberg 17, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Florian Bertram
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestrasse 85, D-22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Tommy Hofmann
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, 14109 Berlin, Germany
| | - Oliver H Seeck
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestrasse 85, D-22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Andriy V Kityk
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Czestochowa University of Technology, 42-200 Czestochowa, Poland.
| | - Marco G Mazza
- Max-Planck-Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Am Faßberg 17, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany and Interdisciplinary Centre for Mathematical Modelling and Department of Mathematical Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 3TU, UK
| | - Andreas Schönhals
- Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM), Unter den Eichen 87, D-12205 Berlin, Germany
| | - Patrick Huber
- Institute of Materials Physics and Technology, Hamburg University of Technology, 21073 Hamburg, Germany.
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17
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Weiss H, Cheng HW, Mars J, Li H, Merola C, Renner FU, Honkimäki V, Valtiner M, Mezger M. Structure and Dynamics of Confined Liquids: Challenges and Perspectives for the X-ray Surface Forces Apparatus. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2019; 35:16679-16692. [PMID: 31614087 PMCID: PMC6933819 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.9b01215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2019] [Revised: 10/15/2019] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The molecular-scale structure and dynamics of confined liquids has increasingly gained relevance for applications in nanotechnology. Thus, a detailed knowledge of the structure of confined liquids on molecular length scales is of great interest for fundamental and applied sciences. To study confined structures under dynamic conditions, we constructed an in situ X-ray surface forces apparatus (X-SFA). This novel device can create a precisely controlled slit-pore confinement down to dimensions on the 10 nm scale by using a cylinder-on-flat geometry for the first time. Complementary structural information can be obtained by simultaneous force measurements and X-ray scattering experiments. The in-plane structure of liquids parallel to the slit pore and density profiles perpendicular to the confining interfaces are studied by X-ray scattering and reflectivity. The normal load between the opposing interfaces can be modulated to study the structural dynamics of confined liquids. The confinement gap distance is tracked simultaneously with nanometer precision by analyzing optical interference fringes of equal chromatic order. Relaxation processes can be studied by driving the system out of equilibrium by shear stress or compression/decompression cycles of the slit pore. The capability of the new device is demonstrated on the liquid crystal 4'-octyl-4-cyano-biphenyl (8CB) in its smectic A (SmA) mesophase. Its molecular-scale structure and orientation confined in 100 nm to 1.7 μm slit pores was studied under static and dynamic nonequilibrium conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henning Weiss
- Max
Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Hsiu-Wei Cheng
- Institute
of Applied Physics, Vienna Institute of
Technology, Wiedner Hauptstrasse 8-10/E134, 1040 Wien, Austria
| | - Julian Mars
- Max
Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany
- Institute
of Physics, Johannes Gutenberg University
Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Hailong Li
- Max
Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Claudia Merola
- Institute
of Applied Physics, Vienna Institute of
Technology, Wiedner Hauptstrasse 8-10/E134, 1040 Wien, Austria
| | - Frank Uwe Renner
- Institute
for Materials Research, Hasselt University, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Veijo Honkimäki
- ESRF-European
Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Avenue des Martyrs 71, 38043 Grenoble, Cedex 9, France
| | - Markus Valtiner
- Institute
of Applied Physics, Vienna Institute of
Technology, Wiedner Hauptstrasse 8-10/E134, 1040 Wien, Austria
- Max-Planck-Institut
für Eisenforschung GmbH, Max-Planck-Strasse 1, 40237 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Markus Mezger
- Max
Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany
- Institute
of Physics, Johannes Gutenberg University
Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany
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18
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Yildirim A, Bühlmeyer A, Hayashi S, Haenle JC, Sentker K, Krause C, Huber P, Laschat S, Schönhals A. Multiple glassy dynamics in dipole functionalized triphenylene-based discotic liquid crystals revealed by broadband dielectric spectroscopy and advanced calorimetry - assessment of the molecular origin. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2019; 21:18265-18277. [PMID: 31393479 DOI: 10.1039/c9cp03499d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
A selected series of dipole functionalized triphenylene-based discotic liquid crystals (DLCs) was synthesized and investigated in a systematic way to reveal the phase behavior and molecular dynamics. The later point is of particular importance to understand the charge transport in such systems which is the key property for their applications such as organic field-effect transistors, solar cells or as nanowires in molecular electronics, and also to tune the properties of DLCs. The mesomorphic properties were studied by polarizing optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and differential scanning calorimetry, which were compared to the corresponding unfunctionalized DLC. The molecular dynamics were investigated by a combination of state-of-the-art broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS) and advanced calorimetry such as fast scanning calorimetry (FSC) and specific heat spectroscopy (SHS). Besides localized fluctuations, surprisingly multiple glassy dynamics were detected for all materials for the first time. Glassy dynamics were proven for both processes unambiguously due to the extraordinary broad frequency range covered. The α1-process is attributed to fluctuations of the alky chains in the intercolumnar space because a polyethylene-like glassy dynamics is observed. This corresponds to a glass transition in a confined three-dimensional space. The α2-process found at temperatures lower than α1-process, is assigned to small scale rotational and/or translational in plane fluctuations of the triphenylene core inside distorted columns. This can be considered as a glass transition in a one-dimensional fluid. Therefore, obtained results are of general importance to understand the glass transition, which is an unsolved problem of condensed matter science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arda Yildirim
- Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM), Unter den Eichen 87, 12205 Berlin, Germany.
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