Struture and Physical Properties of Monolayers and Multilayers of Liquid CrystalsShowing Bulk Ferroeletric Properties

摘要

A series of amphiphilic low molecular weight and polymeric compounds showing bulkferroelectric liquid crystalline behavior was investigated as monolayers at the air/water interface and as thin films on solid substrates. The polymers investigated contained siloxane backbones and pendant liquid crystalline side chains. Investigations at the air/water interface used the Langmuir technique. The molecular packing, morphology, pressure relaxation, and thermodynamics of mixing were investigated. Investigations of thin films utilized Langmuir Blodgett techniques and layer-by-layer deposition to build defined multilayers. X-ray techniques were subsequently utilized by staff at NRL to quantify film thickness, molecular structure, and superlattice stability. Additional films were deposited on microelectrode arrays and switching studies were performed at NRL.