Study of Optical and Electrical Properties in Nematic Phase of Self Assembly Systems

Abstract

Self assembly systems formed by hydroquinone (HQ) and alkyloxy benzoic acids (OBA) are isolated. HQ formed double hydrogen bonds with p-n-alkyloxy benzoic acids (nOBA). Various hydrogen-bonded complexes have been synthesized with HQ and decyloxy to dodecyloxy benzoic acid respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR) studies confirm the hydrogen bond formation in the complex. Polarizing optical microscopic (POM) studies revealed the textural information while the transition and enthalpy values are experimentally deduced from Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) studies. Phase diagram has been constructed from the POM and DSC data respectively. Light modulation was observed in three hydrogen-bonded complexes and is studied by light intensity, helicoidal, textural, and dielectric studies.

Keywords:

• Helix
• hydroquinone
• light modulation
• nematic
• p-n-alkyloxy benzoic acid

Acknowledgments

One of the authors (M. L. N. Madhu Mohan) acknowledges the financial support rendered by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), Department of Science and Technology (DST), and Defense Research Development Organization (DRDO), New Delhi. Infrastructural support provided by Bannari Amman Institute of Technology is gratefully acknowledged.