文献类型：期刊文献

英文题名：The liquid crystal blue phase induced by bent-shaped molecules with different terminal chain lengths

作者：Zheng, Zhigang[1];Shen, Dong[1];Huang, Pei[1]

机构：[1]E China Univ Sci & Technol, Dept Phys, Shanghai 200237, Peoples R China

年份：2011

卷号：13

外文期刊名：NEW JOURNAL OF PHYSICS

收录：;EI(收录号：20112614108027);WOS:【SCI-EXPANDED(收录号:WOS:000292140500002)】；

基金：This work was supported by the National Science Foundation of China (grant no. 60878047), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (grant no. WM1014015) and Research Foundations of ECUST (grant no. yk0157125).

语种：英文

外文关键词：Chains - Doping (additives) - Molecular dynamics - Stereochemistry - Nematic liquid crystals - Chain length

摘要：Several kinds of bent-shaped molecules with different lengths of the terminal chain are doped in chiral nematic liquid crystals (LCs), respectively, to induce the blue phase. The effects of the terminal chain length on the blue phase range are studied. The mechanisms of the phenomena are investigated through molecular dynamics, and the results indicate that molecules with a long terminal chain decrease the interfacial energy between the LCs and defects, whereas they also disturb the alignment of LCs near the interface and make an evident impact on the bent angle of molecules, which is not helpful in forming a stable blue phase. This work provides some useful insights into the molecular design of suitable bent-shaped dopants in order to obtain a wide range of LC blue phases.