Molecular dynamics of a liquid-crystalline polymer with laterally fixed mesogenic side groups

Abstract

The long range molecular dynamical behaviour of liquid-crystalline side chain polymers with the mesogenic groups linked laterally to the backbone have been studied by using dielectric relaxation spectroscopy over a broad temperature and frequency range. The samples were oriented homeotropically and homogenously by electric and magnetic fields and the relaxations were recorded during alignment and with the fully aligned samples. By fitting the data to theoretical relaxation curves, accurate relaxation parameters could be determined, allowing us to perform a comparison with end-fixed liquid-crystalline side chain polymers on the one hand and with low molecular weight liquid crystals on the other. The relaxation in homeotropic alignment for the laterally fixed compound has more analogies in some aspects, for example, the relaxation time distribution, with low molecular weight liquid crystals than with the corresponding end-fixed compounds, though the activation energy is very large (241 kJ/mol). We relate this to the length of the rigid mesogenic unit and the resulting stronger repulsion by the neighbouring side chains during reorientation. In homogeneous alignment the relaxation is very broad and also has a large activation energy. Different molecular processes are related to this relaxation regime. The relationship between the different relaxation processes and the molecular structure is discussed.