The first blue phase reactive monomers containing a bi-mesogenic core and their side-chain polymers

Abstract

Two novel blue phase (BP) reactive monomers M1 and M2 containing a bi-mesogenic core are first reported by introducing two end-attached acrylic spacers with different lengths. Due to the self-assembly of bi-mesogenic cores with the same side-by-side end-attached acrylate spacers in homopolymers P1 and P2, no blue phase could be induced by homopolymerization of M1 and M2. However, by interrupting the self-assembly of bi-mesogenic cores with different side-by-side spacer lengths of copolymers P12, double-twisted cylinders of BPIII could be further extended by copolymerization of M1 and M2 with different molar ratios. With M1 : M2 = 5 : 5 (molar ratio) in both side-chain copolymers P12(soln:5/5) and P12(photo:5/5) rather than binary mixture M1/M2(5/5), the widest BPIII ranges of 5.3 1C and 3.8 1C could be obtained by solution-and photo-polymerization, respectively.Scheme 1 Synthetic routes of blue phase (BP) side-chain copolymers P12 by BP reactive monomers M1 and M2 with different acrylate spacer lengths.

Polymer Network Film with Double Reflection Bands Prepared Using a Thermochromic Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Mixture

“…Cyclohexanone, cyclopentanone, and ethanol were obtained from Chinasun Specialty Products Co., Ltd. LC242 and the rubbing-oriented PET films were given by Wuxi Wanli Adhesive Material Co., Ltd. 4-(4-(6-(Acryloyloxy)hexoxy)benzoyloxy)benzoic acid was synthesized according to the literature. 63 4.3. Preparation of the CLCN Films with a Single Helical Pitch.…”

“…Tetrahydrofuran (THF) was purchased from Shanghai Lingfeng Chemical Reagent Co., Ltd. (China). Cyclohexanone, cyclopentanone, and ethanol were obtained from Chinasun Specialty Products Co., Ltd. LC242 and the rubbing-oriented PET films were given by Wuxi Wanli Adhesive Material Co., Ltd. 4-(4-(6-(Acryloyloxy)­hexoxy)­benzoyloxy)­benzoic acid was synthesized according to the literature …”