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Eremin A, Murad A, Alaasar M. Shear-induced birefringence in an optically isotropic cubic liquid crystalline phase. SOFT MATTER 2022; 18:8315-8319. [PMID: 36300301 DOI: 10.1039/d2sm01148d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
We report an unusually strong flow-induced birefringence in an optically isotropic cubic phase occurring below the isotropic chiral conglomerate phase formed by a low-molecular-weight polycatenar mesogen. The transition into the birefringent state occurs thresholdless and the induced birefringence is comparable with that observed in polymeric systems. We suggest that the flow-induced deformation of the cubic structure is responsible for the strong rheo-optical response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexey Eremin
- Department of Nonlinear Phenomena, Institute for Physics Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
| | - Ahmad Murad
- Department of Nonlinear Phenomena, Institute for Physics Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
| | - Mohamed Alaasar
- Department of Chemistry, Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany.
- Department of Chemistry, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.
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2
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Kubala P, Tomczyk W, Cieśla M. In silico study of liquid crystalline phases formed by bent-shaped molecules with excluded volume type interactions. J Mol Liq 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2022.120156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
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3
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Imine-based highly polar achiral unsymmetrical four-ring bent shaped liquid crystals: Design, Synthesis and Characterization. J Mol Struct 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2022.133496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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4
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Alaasar M, Cai X, Kraus F, Giese M, Liu F, Tschierske C. Controlling ambidextrous mirror symmetry breaking in photosensitive supramolecular polycatenars by alkyl-chain engineering. J Mol Liq 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2022.118597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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5
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Chen ZQ, Sun YW, Zhu YL, Li ZW, Sun ZY. A chiral smectic phase induced by an alternating external field. SOFT MATTER 2022; 18:2569-2576. [PMID: 35293929 DOI: 10.1039/d2sm00093h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Using simple achiral building blocks modulated by an external field to achieve chiral liquid crystal phases remains a challenge. In this study, a chiral helix liquid crystal phase is obtained for a simple Gay-Berne ellipsoid model under an alternating external field by using molecular dynamics simulations. Our results show that the chiral helix liquid crystal phase can be observed in a wide range of external field strengths when the oscillation period is smaller than the rotational characteristic diffusion timescale of ellipsoids. In addition, we find that the pitch and tilt angle of the helix structure can also be adjusted by changing the strength and oscillation period of the applied alternating external field. This may provide a feasible route for the regulation of chiral liquid crystal phases by an alternating external field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zi-Qin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China.
- University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
| | - Yu-Wei Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China.
- University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
| | - You-Liang Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China.
- University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
| | - Zhan-Wei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China.
- University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
| | - Zhao-Yan Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China.
- University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
- Xinjiang Laboratory of Phase Transitions and Microstructures in Condensed Matters, College of Physical Science and Technology, Yili Normal University, Yining, 835000, China
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6
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Alaasar M, Schmidt JC, Cai X, Liu F, Tschierske C. Controlling liquid and liquid crystalline network formation by core-fluorination of hydrogen bonded supramolecular polycatenars. J Mol Liq 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2021.115870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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7
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Buhse T, Cruz JM, Noble-Terán ME, Hochberg D, Ribó JM, Crusats J, Micheau JC. Spontaneous Deracemizations. Chem Rev 2021; 121:2147-2229. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.0c00819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Buhse
- Centro de Investigaciones Químicas−IICBA, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Avenida Universidad 1001, 62209 Cuernavaca, Morelos Mexico
| | - José-Manuel Cruz
- Facultad de Ciencias en Física y Matemáticas, Universidad Autónoma de Chiapas, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas 29050, Mexico
| | - María E. Noble-Terán
- Centro de Investigaciones Químicas−IICBA, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Avenida Universidad 1001, 62209 Cuernavaca, Morelos Mexico
| | - David Hochberg
- Department of Molecular Evolution, Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), Carretera Ajalvir, Km. 4, 28850 Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid Spain
| | - Josep M. Ribó
- Institut de Ciències del Cosmos (IEEC-ICC) and Departament de Química Inorgànica i Orgànica, Universitat de Barcelona, Martí i Franquès 1, 08028 Barcelona, Catalunya Spain
| | - Joaquim Crusats
- Institut de Ciències del Cosmos (IEEC-ICC) and Departament de Química Inorgànica i Orgànica, Universitat de Barcelona, Martí i Franquès 1, 08028 Barcelona, Catalunya Spain
| | - Jean-Claude Micheau
- Laboratoire des IMRCP, UMR au CNRS No. 5623, Université Paul Sabatier, F-31062 Toulouse Cedex, France
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8
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Reppe T, Poppe S, Tschierske C. Controlling Mirror Symmetry Breaking and Network Formation in Liquid Crystalline Cubic, Isotropic Liquid and Crystalline Phases of Benzil-Based Polycatenars. Chemistry 2020; 26:16066-16079. [PMID: 32652801 PMCID: PMC7756378 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202002869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Spontaneous development of chirality in systems composed of achiral molecules is important for new routes to asymmetric synthesis, chiral superstructures and materials, as well as for the understanding of the mechanisms of emergence of prebiotic chirality. Herein, it is shown that the 4,4'-diphenylbenzil unit is a universal transiently chiral bent building block for the design of multi-chained (polycatenar) rod-like molecules capable of forming a wide variety of helically twisted network structures in the liquid, the liquid crystalline (LC) and the crystalline state. Single polar substituents at the apex of tricatenar molecules support the formation of the achiral (racemic) cubic double network phase with Ia 3 ‾ d symmetry and relatively small twist along the networks. The combination of an alkyl chain with fluorine substitution leads to the homogeneously chiral triple network phase with I23 space group, and in addition, provides a mirror symmetry broken liquid. Replacing F by Cl or Br further increases the twist, leading to a short pitch double gyroid Ia 3 ‾ d phase, which is achiral again. The effects of the structural variations on the network structures, either leading to achiral phases or chiral conglomerates are analyzed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tino Reppe
- Institute of ChemistryMartin Luther University Halle-WittenbergKurt-Mothes-Straße 206120HalleGermany
| | - Silvio Poppe
- Institute of ChemistryMartin Luther University Halle-WittenbergKurt-Mothes-Straße 206120HalleGermany
| | - Carsten Tschierske
- Institute of ChemistryMartin Luther University Halle-WittenbergKurt-Mothes-Straße 206120HalleGermany
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9
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Szustakiewicz P, Kowalska N, Grzelak D, Narushima T, Góra M, Bagiński M, Pociecha D, Okamoto H, Liz-Marzán LM, Lewandowski W. Supramolecular Chirality Synchronization in Thin Films of Plasmonic Nanocomposites. ACS NANO 2020; 14:12918-12928. [PMID: 32886482 PMCID: PMC7596782 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.0c03964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Mirror symmetry breaking in materials is a fascinating phenomenon that has practical implications for various optoelectronic technologies. Chiral plasmonic materials are particularly appealing due to their strong and specific interactions with light. In this work we broaden the portfolio of available strategies toward the preparation of chiral plasmonic assemblies, by applying the principles of chirality synchronization-a phenomenon known for small molecules, which results in the formation of chiral domains from transiently chiral molecules. We report the controlled cocrystallization of 23 nm gold nanoparticles and liquid crystal molecules yielding domains made of highly ordered, helical nanofibers, preferentially twisted to the right or to the left within each domain. We confirmed that such micrometer sized domains exhibit strong, far-field circular dichroism (CD) signals, even though the bulk material is racemic. We further highlight the potential of the proposed approach to realize chiral plasmonic thin films by using a mechanical chirality discrimination method. Toward this end, we developed a rapid CD imaging technique based on the use of polarized light optical microscopy (POM), which enabled probing the CD signal with micrometer-scale resolution, despite of linear dichroism and birefringence in the sample. The developed methodology allows us to extend intrinsically local effects of chiral synchronization to the macroscopic scale, thereby broadening the available tools for chirality manipulation in chiral plasmonic systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Szustakiewicz
- Laboratory
of Organic Nanomaterials and Biomolecules, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 1 Street, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Natalia Kowalska
- Laboratory
of Organic Nanomaterials and Biomolecules, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 1 Street, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Dorota Grzelak
- Laboratory
of Organic Nanomaterials and Biomolecules, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 1 Street, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Tetsuya Narushima
- Institute
for Molecular Science (IMS) and The Graduate University for Advanced
Studies (SOKENDAI), 38
Nishigonaka, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585, Japan
| | - Monika Góra
- Laboratory
of Organic Nanomaterials and Biomolecules, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 1 Street, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Maciej Bagiński
- Laboratory
of Organic Nanomaterials and Biomolecules, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 1 Street, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Damian Pociecha
- Faculty
of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, 101 Żwirki i Wigury, 02-089 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Hiromi Okamoto
- Institute
for Molecular Science (IMS) and The Graduate University for Advanced
Studies (SOKENDAI), 38
Nishigonaka, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585, Japan
| | - Luis M. Liz-Marzán
- CIC
biomaGUNE, Basque Research and Technology
Alliance (BRTA), Paseo
de Miramón 182, Donostia-San Sebastián 20014, Spain
- Ikerbasque,
Basque Foundation for Science, 48013 Bilbao, Spain
- Centro
de Investigación en Biomédica Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Paseo de Miramón 182, Donostia-San Sebastián 20014, Spain
| | - Wiktor Lewandowski
- Laboratory
of Organic Nanomaterials and Biomolecules, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 1 Street, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
- (W.L.)
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10
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Mirror Symmetry Breaking in Liquids and Their Impact on the Development of Homochirality in Abiogenesis: Emerging Proto-RNA as Source of Biochirality? Symmetry (Basel) 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/sym12071098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent progress in mirror symmetry breaking and chirality amplification in isotropic liquids and liquid crystalline cubic phases of achiral molecule is reviewed and discussed with respect to its implications for the hypothesis of emergence of biological chirality. It is shown that mirror symmetry breaking takes place in fluid systems where homochiral interactions are preferred over heterochiral and a dynamic network structure leads to chirality synchronization if the enantiomerization barrier is sufficiently low, i.e., that racemization drives the development of uniform chirality. Local mirror symmetry breaking leads to conglomerate formation. Total mirror symmetry breaking requires either a proper phase transitions kinetics or minor chiral fields, leading to stochastic and deterministic homochirality, respectively, associated with an extreme chirality amplification power close to the bifurcation point. These mirror symmetry broken liquids are thermodynamically stable states and considered as possible systems in which uniform biochirality could have emerged. A model is hypothesized, which assumes the emergence of uniform chirality by chirality synchronization in dynamic “helical network fluids” followed by polymerization, fixing the chirality and leading to proto-RNA formation in a single process.
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11
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Walker R. The twist-bend phases: structure–property relationships, chirality and hydrogen-bonding. LIQUID CRYSTALS TODAY 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/1358314x.2020.1771841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Walker
- Department of Chemistry, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
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12
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Lehmann A, Alaasar M, Poppe M, Poppe S, Prehm M, Nagaraj M, Sreenilayam SP, Panarin YP, Vij JK, Tschierske C. Stereochemical Rules Govern the Soft Self-Assembly of Achiral Compounds: Understanding the Heliconical Liquid-Crystalline Phases of Bent-Core Mesogens. Chemistry 2020; 26:4714-4733. [PMID: 31859404 PMCID: PMC7186843 DOI: 10.1002/chem.201904871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Revised: 12/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
A series of bent-shaped 4-cyanoresorcinol bisterephthalates is reported. Some of these achiral compounds spontaneously form a short-pitch heliconical lamellar liquid-crystalline phase with incommensurate 3-layer pitch and the helix axis parallel to the layer normal. It is observed at the paraelectric-(anti)ferroelectric transition, if it coincides with the transition from random to uniform tilt and with the transition from anticlinic to synclinic tilt correlation of the molecules in the layers of the developing tilted smectic phase. For compounds with long chains the heliconical phase is only field-induced, but once formed it is stable in a distinct temperature range, even after switching off the field. The presence of the helix changes the phase properties and the switching mechanism from the naturally preferred rotation around the molecular long axis, which reverses the chirality, to a precession on a cone, which retains the chirality. These observations are explained by diastereomeric relations between two coexisting modes of superstructural chirality. One is the layer chirality, resulting from the combination of tilt and polar order, and the other one is the helical twist evolving between the layers. At lower temperature the helical structure is replaced by a non-tilted and ferreoelectric switching lamellar phase, providing an alternative non-chiral way for the transition from anticlinic to synclinic tilt.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Lehmann
- Department of ChemistryMartin Luther University Halle-WittenbergKurt Mothes Str. 206120Halle (Saale)Germany
| | - Mohamed Alaasar
- Department of ChemistryMartin Luther University Halle-WittenbergKurt Mothes Str. 206120Halle (Saale)Germany
- Department of ChemistryCairo University12613GizaEgypt
| | - Marco Poppe
- Department of ChemistryMartin Luther University Halle-WittenbergKurt Mothes Str. 206120Halle (Saale)Germany
| | - Silvio Poppe
- Department of ChemistryMartin Luther University Halle-WittenbergKurt Mothes Str. 206120Halle (Saale)Germany
| | - Marko Prehm
- Department of ChemistryMartin Luther University Halle-WittenbergKurt Mothes Str. 206120Halle (Saale)Germany
| | - Mamatha Nagaraj
- Department of Electronic and Electrical EngineeringTrinity College, Dublin, The University of DublinDublin2Ireland
| | - Sithara P. Sreenilayam
- Department of Electronic and Electrical EngineeringTrinity College, Dublin, The University of DublinDublin2Ireland
| | - Yuri P. Panarin
- Department of Electronic and Electrical EngineeringTrinity College, Dublin, The University of DublinDublin2Ireland
| | - Jagdish K. Vij
- Department of Electronic and Electrical EngineeringTrinity College, Dublin, The University of DublinDublin2Ireland
| | - Carsten Tschierske
- Department of ChemistryMartin Luther University Halle-WittenbergKurt Mothes Str. 206120Halle (Saale)Germany
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