Study on the Structure and Liquid Crystal Behavior of Cyclohexane Liquid Crystal Monomer

Abstract

Chemical structure and liquid crystal behavior of mesogenic monomer(Trans, trans)-4-propyl-4’-vinyl- bicyclohexane(3HHV) with platelet texture of a blue phase and mesogenic monomer(Trans, trans)-4-propyl-4’-propenyl –bicyclohexane(4HHV) with cholesteric phase were studied. The chemical structure of mesogenic monomers were determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and Hydrogen-nuclear magnetic resonance spectra. Liquid crystal behavior of mesogenic monomers were analyzed by polarizing optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Thermal properties of mesogenic monomers were researched by differential scanning calorimetry. The results were that: 3HHV showed the platelet texture of a blue phase was considerably different from single color texture of blue phase we always refer to, and assuredly belong to a new kind of blue phase liquid crystal. These two kinds of cyclohexane liquid crystal monomer also showed good thermal stability.