The scarcity of research about nitrogen containing heterocyclic discotic liquid crystal has made it an interesting subject for chemists. In this thesis, we will discuss the synthesis and properties of four kinds of new dimeric discotic liquid crystal in details. The first type of new dimeric discotic liquid crystals were synthesized based on a novel core structure, dibenzo[a,c]phenazine. All dimers linked by a hexyl-chain spacer exhibited columar phase. The range of mesomorphic temperature became wide as the chain length of spacer increased. Simultaneously, we also changed terminal chain length to investigate the influence on mesomorphic properties by attached terminal group. The second type of new dimeric discotic liquid crystals, which contained the dibenzoquinoxaline skeleton, didn¡¦t show the properties of mesomorphic phase due to the poverty of planality. The third type of molecules, which also have the dibenzoquinoxaline skeleton, were the banana-shaped discotic liquid crystals. We anticipated these dimeric molecules would demonstrate another special mesogenic phase. The last type of dimeric discotic liquid crystals were the extension of our previously research. These molecules, which comprised 5,6,11,12,17,18- hexaazatrinaphthylene skeleton, would be good candidates for using as a n-type material.

Because of the unique physical properties of liquid crystal molecules, such as: light, electricity, magnetic anisotropy, they exhibit different values, the most known current application on displays in our life. As the liquid crystal molecules can be modified through the functional groups, thereby affecting its physical properties, it caused great interests in synthetic chemists. In this thesis, we synthesized liquid crystal based on dibezo[a,c]phenazine core and the dioxole skeleton was also induced into dove-tail alkyl chain functional group surrounding the central aromatic core . Moreover, we also change the chain length of alkyl chain to explore stacking arrangement structure of the mesophase. By the various instruments to explore the nature of stacking, we preliminary assumed that the mesophase might exhibit the helical stacking with excellent charge mobility, which could be good candidates for optical and electrical applications.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves [61]-[65]). Also available in electronic version. Access restricted to campus users.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available in electronic version.

Thesis (M.Phil.)--Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 106-110). Also available in electronic version.

This thesis presents a study of colloidal particles dispersed in thermotropic liquid crystals. It has a specific focus on colloids in the presence of an interface between the liquid crystal and an isotropic fluid. Three systems are studied: colloids trapped at a planar interface between a cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) and an isotropic oil, nematic emulsions with interfacial colloids and the influence of colloids on the phase transition kinetics of the cholesteric blue phase. Experiments are carried out using polarising optical and confocal microscopy. By combining these techniques, the director field of the liquid crystals could be imaged in combination with precise observation of the colloid locations. Custom image analysis algorithms are developed to extract the information. In the first system, we create an interface between a cholesteric liquid crystal and an isotropic liquid. Homeotropic anchoring leads to a well aligned cholesteric layer and the formation of the fingerprint texture. Fluorescent colloidal particles with planar surface anchoring are dispersed in the CLC. A majority of these particles decorate the interface. The final distribution of particles perpendicular to the interface has a clear dependence on the particle size. In the plane of the interface, surface defects form a template for the colloids. The second system is a particle dispersion within a short pitch CLC which exhibits a blue phase. The colloidal particles and associated defects act as nucleation sites for the blue phase in the cholesteric to blue phase transition. Colloidal particles cause localised melting from the blue phase to the isotropic phase and lead to a larger temperature range for coexistence between isotropic and blue phases. Furthermore, the isotropic regions can be faceted, their shape and size is controlled by the blue phase elasticity. In the final system, a nematic emulsion is created. Droplets of nematic LC are dispersed in water. Colloidal particles initially mixed into the liquid crystal decorate the interface between the two fluids. The addition of a surfactant switches the liquid crystal alignment at the fluid-fluid interface from planar to homeotropic. This forces a change in defect structure, from two boojums at the poles to a hedgehog defect in the droplet centre. The presence of colloids affects the switching dynamics and alters the final liquid crystal alignment preventing the droplets from forming a central radial defect. There is a symbiotic relationship between the particle properties - size and anchoring at the surface - and the elastic properties of the liquid crystal in the bulk and in the presence of an interface with an isotropic fluid. How the systems respond when the balance of these factors is altered is explored throughout the thesis.

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In this work I model the liquid crystal polymers as worms and explore the Spheroidal approach to examine their statistical mechanics. Several models are presented in this work to describe main chain-, side chain-polymers, polymer networks and gels in their nematic state. In the case of main chain nematic polymers, the worm flexibility, favouring disorder, and the nematic potential, tending to align segments to be parallel to each other, compete to determine the properties of polymers. I predict the temperature dependence of order parameter and phase transition behaviour for different lengths of the polymers, and the dimensions as well. Subsequently, I examine the critical features of the nematic polymer when an electrical field is applied. Side chain polymers with semi-flexible backbone and stiff nematogenic pendants form interesting nematic phases, largely as a consequence of competition between backbone entropy and pendant order. I classify them into three categories: NI, NII, and NIII phase, according to volume fractions, temperature, nematic coupling constants, and stiffness. In these phases the backbone and pendants have orders different in magnitude and/or in sign in order to achieve a stable state. Phase diagrams are given. In addition, I predict unusual properties such as anomalous temperature variation of optical anisotropy and molecular conformational changes. Crosslinks confine polymer chains in a network so that their strands have a shape different from their natural ones. Such constraints shift phase transition temperature. The other effect is that crosslinks give the system rubber elasticity. Combining rubber elasticity with liquid crystal features, networks exhibit unusual phenomena, such as discontinuous stress-strain relations, spontaneous shape changes, non-linear stress-optical laws and deviations from classical behaviour of conventional elastomers. It is proposed that residual nematic interaction is responsible for deviations found in classical elastomers. The nematic networks swollen by isotropic solvent form nematic gels. At low temperatures a nematic gel coexists with excess solvent, at high temperatures the coexisting gel is isotropic. In addition, coexistence is predicted between nematic and isotropic gels. There is an associated triple point. There are possible elastic problems associated with different phases coexisting in one gel sample. Main chain nematic polymers have been modelled either as homogeneous worms, or as jointed rods by others. In reality the polymers are composed of the mesogens linked by semi-flexible spacers. One must expect that the spacers have an order differing from the mesogens. The consecutive mesogens are not decoupled and the spacers are able to talk to each other via the mesogens in between. The model presented takes account of molecular parameters, such as length of the mesogen and spacer, and their interactions. The nematic order of the two components, the nematic-isotropic transition, and dimensions of the polymers are addressed. Finally, I examine both worm and jointed rod models, to see when each is applicable. Accordingly an elastically jointed rod model is presented. Hairpins, found naturally in the worm problem, also exist for jointed systems but their scaling is quite different. Comparisons of these results with experiments are accordingly made and are found to be satisfactory.