Molecular orientation in liquid crystalline dendrimer / liquid crystal blends

Abstract

Poly(propyleneimine) dendrimers having peripherally mesogenic groups(LCDs) exhibited a smectic liquid crystalline nature. When they were slowly cooled from the isotropic melt, a homeotropic structure was spontaneously formed on a glass plate in smectic A phase. The homeotropic structure was observed in LCD/5CB blend systems in this study. Using LCD having peripherally cianobiphenyl mesogen, it could be formed in the 0.1wt%-LCD blend exhibiting nematic phase. It suggests that the LCD induced to stand 5CB molecule vertically on a glass plate. LCD with azobenzen mesogen also exhibited a homeotropic alignment in LCD/5CB blend systems.