Molecular Object Liquid Crystals: An Approach to New Materials.
Abstract
The one aspect of the field of liquid crystals which remains largely undeveloped is the supermolecular dimension of self ordering oligomers and polymers. In our opinion it is here that many of the potential opportunities exist for truly novel materials. An example of super-molecular chemistry is the use of liquid crystallinity as a tool to form molecular object polymers of persistent shape. This will be illustrated through the bulk synthesis of two-dimensional (2D) polymers which may be described as nanometer-thick flat objects. One exciting observation has been the formation of 'macroscopic' films from the layered assemblies with two completely different surfaces which reflect directly the chemical nature of opposite surfaces of the'molecular' assemblies. Other systems give rise to films with remarkably stable nonlinear optical properties and high thresholds for laser damage. A different example to be described by the lecture is that of discrete molecular aggregates of rodcoil polymers which form superlattices and melt into liquid crystalline phases. These systems should be of interest in the manufacturing of patterned surfaces for a wide variety of technologies.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1994
- Accession Number
- ADA288905
Entities
People
- Jkenneth A. Walker
- John L. Wu
- Leonard Radzilowski
- Samuel I. Stupp
- Vassou Lebonheur
Organizations
- University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign