On the Miscibility of Nematic Liquid Crystals with Ionic Liquids and Joint Reaction for High Helical Twisting Power Product(s)

Mixtures of nematic liquid crystals (<i>LCs</i>) with chiral ionic liquids (<i>CILs</i>) may find application as active materials for electrically driven broadband mirrors. Five nematic liquid crystal hosts were mixed with twenty three ionic liquids, including chiral ones, an...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Maciej Czajkowski, Joanna Feder-Kubis, Bartłomiej Potaniec, Łukasz Duda, Joanna Cybińska
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-12-01
Series:Materials
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/1/157
Description
Summary:Mixtures of nematic liquid crystals (<i>LCs</i>) with chiral ionic liquids (<i>CILs</i>) may find application as active materials for electrically driven broadband mirrors. Five nematic liquid crystal hosts were mixed with twenty three ionic liquids, including chiral ones, and studied in terms of their miscibility within the nematic phase. Phase diagrams of the mixtures with <i>CILs</i> which exhibited twisted nematic phase were determined. Miscibility, at levels between 2 and 5 wt%, was found in six mixtures with cyanobiphenyl-based liquid crystal host—<i>E7</i>. On the other hand, the highest changes in the isotropization temperature was found in the mixtures with isothiocyanate-based liquid crystal host—<i>1825</i>. Occurrence of chemical reactions was found. A novel chiral binaphtyl-based organic salt [<i>N<sub>11116</sub></i>][<i>BNDP</i>] was synthesized and, in reaction to the <i>1825</i> host, resulted in high helical twisting power product(s). Selectivity of the reaction with the isothiocyanate-based liquid crystal was found.
ISSN:1996-1944