Dynamic NMR studies of molecular motions and order in calamitic and discotic liquid crystals

Description

This dissertation reports a study of three kinds of liquid crystals using modern solid state NMR techniques: chiral rod-like liquid crystals, bent-core mesogens and disc-like liquid crystals.
The properties and structures of liquid crystals are first introduced in Chapter 1. To understand the principles of different NMR phenomena, quantum mechanical theory is adopted to study different nuclear spin interactions and NMR techniques in Chapter 2.

In the next part of this dissertation (Chapter 3-6), deuterium NMR methods are used to investigate the dynamics and structures of some liquid crystal phases.
This is first done using the spin relaxation study. The parameters obtained from the model simulation can describe the molecular motion and internal dynamics in the fast motion region.
Secondly, we investigate the dynamic process of discotic mesophases and unwound smectic C* phase using the line shape simulation study.
2D deuterium NMR exchange experiments are then performed to study the jump process in TGBA* phase and SmC* phase.
The above investigation has demonstrated some powerful NMR methods for the dynamic study of liquid crystals.

The third part of the dissertation (Chapter 7-9) is concerned with C-13 NMR techniques.
After we introduce the quantum theory of different pulse sequences, theoretical models are presented to fit observations such as chemical shifts and dipolar splittings. Moreover high resolution liquid C-13 NMR experiments are introduced to study some bent-core molecules. They are useful to assist the carbon peak assignments of these molecules. The structure and ordering information of liquid crystals can be determined in their mesophases.

Finally, a brief summary of the dissertation is given in the last chapter.

Links & Downloads

1. J. Zhang, V. Domenici, and R. Y. Dong, “13C NMR study of orientational ordering in smectic A phase of chiral liquid crystals”, Chem. Phys. Lett., 441, 237, (2007).
2. J. Zhang, A. Ferraz, A. C. Ribeiro, P. J. Sebastiao and R. Y. Dong, “Deuterium nuclear-magnetic-resonance Study of a Chiral Smectic-C* Phase”, Phys. Rev. E, 74, 061704 (2006).
3. J. Zhang, V. Domenici, C. A. Veracini and R. Y. Dong, “Deuterium NMR of TGBA* Phase in Chiral Liquid Crystals”, J. Phys. Chem. B, 110, 15193 (2006)
4. J. Zhang, R. Y. Dong, “Comparative Study of Planar Motion in Monomeric and Dimeric Discotics”, J. Phys. Chem. B, 110, 15075 (2006).
5. J. Zhang, R. Y. Dong, “2H NMR angle-dependent spectral study of core dynamics in a discotic columnar phase”, Phys. Rev. E, 73, 061704 (2006).
6. R. Y. Dong, J. Zhang, K. Fodor-Csorba, “On the Carbon-13 chemical shift tensors of bent-core Mesogens”, Chem. Phys. Lett., 417, 475 (2006).
7. R. Y. Dong, J. Zhang, C. A. Veracini, “Chain Dynamics in a Chiral C phase by deuteron spin relaxation study”, Solid State NMR, 28, 173 (2005).
8. R. Y. Dong, J. Xu, J. Zhang, C. A. Veracini, “13C NMR study of orientational ordering in the chiral C phase of partially deuterated smectogens”, Phys. Rev. E, 72, 061701 (2005).
9. http://hdl.handle.net/1993/2813

Tags

Liquid Crystals

Nuclear magnetic resonance

Additional Fields

Identifer	oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:MWU.1993/2813
Date	14 September 2007
Creators	Zhang, Jing
Contributors	Dong, Ronald (Physics and Astronomy), Page, John (Physics and Astronomy) van Lierop, Johan (Physics and Astronomy) O'Neil, Joseph (Chemistry) Morrow, Michael (Department of Physics and Physical Oceanography, Memorial University of Newfoundland)
Source Sets	Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada
Language	en_US
Detected Language	English