1st Edition

Chemistry of Discotic Liquid Crystals From Monomers to Polymers

By Sandeep Kumar Copyright 2011
    518 Pages 403 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    522 Pages 403 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    The self-contained properties of discotic liquid crystals (DLCs) render them powerful functional materials for many semiconducting device applications and models for energy and charge migration in self-organized dynamic functional soft materials. The past three decades have seen tremendous interest in this area, fueled primarily by the possibility of creating a new generation of organic semiconductors and wide viewing displays using DLCs. While a number of books on classical calamitic liquid crystals are available, there are, as yet, no books that are dedicated exclusively to the basic design principles, synthesis, and physical properties of DLCs.

    The first reference book to cover DLCs, Chemistry of Discotic Liquid Crystals: From Monomers to Polymers highlights the chemistry and thermal behavior of DLCs. Divided into six chapters, each with a general description, background, and context for the concepts involved, the book begins with a basic introduction to liquid crystals, describing molecular self-assembly and various types of liquid crystals. It outlines their classification, covers their history and general applications, and focuses on DLCs and their discovery, structure, characterization, and alignment.

    The book goes on to examine the chemistry and physical properties of various monomeric DLCs, including 25 sections describing the synthesis and mesomorphic properties of monomeric DLCs formed by different cores. The bulk of the book covers the chemistry and mesomorphism of discotic dimers, oligomers, and polymers and concludes with a look at some applicable properties of DLCs.

    A comprehensive and up-to-date resource, this book is designed to be accessible and of value not just for students and researchers but also to the directors and principal investigators working in this field, providing the foundation and fuel to advance this fast-growing technological field.

    Introduction

    Self-Organization of Molecules and Liquid Crystals

    Brief History of Liquid Crystals

    Classification of Liquid Crystals

    Lyotropic Liquid Crystals

    Thermotropic Liquid Crystals

    Calamitic Liquid Crystals

    Bent-Core Liquid Crystals

    Discotic Liquid Crystals

    Structure of the Nematic Phases of Discotic Mesogens

    Smectic Phases of Discotic Mesogens

    Columnar Phases of Discotic Mesogens

    Cubic Phase

    Alignment of Discotic Liquid Crystals

    Monomeric Discotic Liquid Crystals

    Benzene Core

    Naphthalene Core

    Phenanthrene Core

    Anthraquinone Core

    Pyrene Core

    Triphenylene Core

    Perylene Core

    Dibenzo[g,p]chrysene Core

    Dibenzo[ fg,op]naphthacene Core

    Truxene Core

    Decacyclene Core

    Hexabenzocoronene Core

    Macrocyclic Cores

    Miscellaneous Aromatic Cores

    Triazine Core

    Phenazines

    Hexaazatriphenylene Core

    Heterotruxenes

    Tricycloquinazoline Core

    Porphyrin Core

    Porphyrazine Core

    Phthalocyanine Core

    Miscellaneous Discotic Metallomesogens

    Miscellaneous Heterocyclic Cores

    Non-Aromatic Cores

    Discotic Dimers

    Benzene-Based Discotic Dimers

    Scylloinositol Dimer

    Discotic Dimers Derived from Pyranose Sugars

    Rufigallol-Based Discotic Dimers

    Triphenylene-Based Discotic Dimers

    Cyclotetraveratrylene Dimer

    Phthalocyanine-Based Discotic Dimers

    Porphyrin Double-Deckers

    Hexabenzocoronene-Based Dimers

    Discotic Oligomers

    Discotic Trimers

    Discotic Tetramers

    Discotic Pentamers

    Discotic Hexamers

    Star-Shaped Discotic Heptamers

    Discotic Polymers

    Benzene-Based Discotic Polymers

    Alkynylbenzene-Based Discotic Polymers

    Rufigallol-Based Main-Chain Discotic Polymers

    Triphenylene-Based Polymers

    Cyclotetraveratrylene-Based Polymers

    Phthalocyanine-Based Polymers

    Hexabenzocoronene-Based Polymers

    Perspectives

    Discotics for Wide Viewing Displays

    Discotics for High-Quality Carbon Products

    Discotic Liquid Crystals as Materials for a New Generation of Organic Electronics

    Discotic Solar Cells

    Discotic Liquid Crystals as Organic Light-Emitting Diode Materials

    Discotic Field Effect Transistors

    Biography

    Sandeep Kumar

    "Kumar's book will be a key resource and a "must buy" for all researchers involved in the synthesis and investigation of DLCs, because it combines information scattered over dozens of review articles in a single and concise volume. It will also aid those who cover DLCs in undergraduate and graduate courses by easing their search for key references on specific concepts of DLCs and discotic compounds."
    —S. Holger Eichhorn, University of Windsor, in Journal of the American Chemical Society, April 2011