Discotic liquid crystal

Discotic liquid crystals are mesophases formed from disc-shaped molecules known as "discotic mesogens". These phases are often also referred to as columnar phases. Discotic mesogens are typically composed of an aromatic core surrounded by flexible alkyl chains. The aromatic cores allow charge transfer in the stacking direction through the π conjugate systems. The charge transfer allows the discotic liquid crystals to be electrically semiconductive along the stacking direction.[1] Applications have been focusing on using these systems in photovoltaic devices,[2] organic light emitting diodes (OLED),[3] and molecular wires.[4] Discotics have also been suggested for use in compensation films, for LCD displays. Sivaramakrishna Chandrasekhar who first discovered these systems, did lots of important work on liquid crystals, and founded the International Liquid Crystal Society. He was Sir C V Raman's nephew, and brother of Pancharatnam of the geometric phase fame, and cousin of Subrahmanyam Chandrasekhar.

  1. ^ Cladis, P.E., Ratna, B.R., Shashidhar, R, S. Chandrasekhar (1930–2004): Discotic Liquid Crystals, [1]
  2. ^ Schmidt-Mende, L; Fechtenkötter, A; Müllen, K; Friend, R.H; MacKenzie, J.D (2002). "Efficient organic photovoltaics from soluble discotic liquid crystalline materials". Physica E: Low-dimensional Systems and Nanostructures. 14 (1–2). Elsevier BV: 263–267. doi:10.1016/s1386-9477(02)00400-9. ISSN 1386-9477.
  3. ^ Seguy, I.; Jolinat, P.; Destruel, P.; Farenc, J.; Mamy, R.; Bock, H.; Ip, J.; Nguyen, T. P. (2001-05-15). "Red organic light emitting device made from triphenylene hexaester and perylene tetraester". Journal of Applied Physics. 89 (10). AIP Publishing: 5442–5448. doi:10.1063/1.1365059. ISSN 0021-8979.
  4. ^ Steinhart, Martin; Zimmermann, Sven; Göring, Petra; Schaper, Andreas K.; Gösele, Ulrich; Weder, Christoph; Wendorff, Joachim H. (2005). "Liquid Crystalline Nanowires in Porous Alumina: Geometric Confinement versus Influence of Pore Walls". Nano Letters. 5 (3). American Chemical Society (ACS): 429–434. doi:10.1021/nl0481728. ISSN 1530-6984. PMID 15755089.