A novel thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers poly{3-benzylidene amino-4-hydroxybenzoic acid (3,4-BAHBA)-co-trans-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (4HCA: trans-coumaric acid)} (Poly(3,4-BAHBA-co-4HCA)), was synthesized by the thermal polycondensation of 4HCA and 3,4-BAHBA, which was synthesized by a reaction of 3-amino-4-hydroxybenzoic acid (3,4-AHBA) with benzaldehyde. When the 4HCA compositions of Poly(3,4-BAHBA-co-4HCA)s were above 55 mol%, the copolymers showed a nematic, liquid crystalline phase. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements of the copolymers showed a high glass transition temperature of more than 100 °C, sufficient for use in engineering plastics. Furthermore, the copolymers showed photoluminescence in an N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) solution under ultraviolet (UV) light with a wavelength of 365 nm. Oriented film of Poly(3,4-BAHBA-co-4HCA) with a 4HCA composition of 75 mol% emitted polarized light, which was confirmed by fluorescent spectroscopy equipped with parallel and crossed polarizers.
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