1. Competition Between Mesogens in Pyridone-based Supramolecular Calamitic, Banana and Discotic Liquid Crystals.
Kurt N. Wiegel, Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Eau Claire, WI
Hydrogen Bonded Liquid Crystalline Networks- Tetrafunctionalized Networks: A series of supramolecular mesogenic networks with increasing crosslink density inclusion have been created. All the networks display liquid crystallization characteristics at a surprisingly high network concentration, up to 25%. This percentage correlates closely with the tetrafunctionalization of the crosslinking agent. A statistical correlation can be drawn between these two phenomenon: when one acid group is always hydrogen bonded to the networking agent, then liquid crystallinity is destroyed.
Hydrogen Bonded Liquid Crystalline Networks- Trifunctionalized Networks: In order to continue the study of these supramolecular networked systems, a trifunctional networking system was devised that displayed smectic phases until 15% and nematic phases cleared just under 33%- in keeping with the trifunctionalization of the networking agent and the statistical correlation posited above.