Expedited Award: Thermotropic Behavior and Novel Applications for Polymer Liquid Crystals

研究概述：流体微结构的一种重要形式是 所谓的液晶。 在这个项目中，高纯度聚合物 在超临界流体条件下合成液晶 研究热致性行为的条件和 在激光系统中的新应用。 正确了解 结构-性质关系将允许分子设计， 聚合物液晶在许多领域中用于所需的应用， 涉及界面和传输的技术领域 流程. Uniform/Innovation：建议的方法，如果 成功，创新在于聚合物液晶可以 以高纯度成本有效地制备以满足需要 高能量激光技术。 为了实现光学 根据激光技术的要求，建议 同时进行聚合和纯化。 聚合物 文献中报道的液晶一直被认为 在液体溶剂中制备，其中随后除去 剩余的溶剂和未反应的单体和精制 分子量分布都难以实现。 意义/技术影响：一种经济的方法， 高纯度聚合物液晶的制备应 对许多技术领域产生了深远的影响。 的 高选择性生物活性膜的合成， 高可溶性药物的控制给药、热 敏感的气体和蒸汽屏障，光敏聚合物， 具有潜在益处的应用实例 这项研究的结果。 聚合物液体的重点 与激光技术相关的晶体应该具有 对非线性光学感应的直接贡献 包括频率转换、四波混频、激光 光束自聚焦和电光切换。 的 该项目的最终目标是提供结构-性能 基于对高纯液体的广泛分析的关系式 晶体样品，从而为分子 为现有和新的应用程序设计。

Research Summary: One important form of fluid microstructures is the so-called liquid crystal. In this project, highly pure polymer liquid crystals will be synthesized under supercritical fluid conditions for the investigation of thermotropic behavior and for novel applications in laser systems. A sound understanding of structure-property relations will permit molecular design of polymer liquid crystals for desired applications in a number of technological areas involving interfacial and transport processes. Uniqueness/Innovation: The proposed methodology, if successful, is innovative in that polymer liquid crystals can be prepared cost effectively in high purity to meet the needs of high energy laser technology. To achieve the optical homogeneity as demanded in laser technology, it is proposed to carry out polymerization and purification simultaneously. Polymer liquid crystals reported in the literature have been consistently prepared in liquid solvents, where the subsequent removal of remaining solvent and unreacted monomer and the refinement of molecular weight distribution are both difficult to accomplish. Significance/Technical Impact: An economical approach to the preparation of polymer liquid crystals in high purity should have profound impact on a number of technological areas. The synthesis of highly selective biologically active membranes, controlled administration of highly soluble drugs, thermally sensitive gas and vapor barriers, photoactive polymers, are examples of applications with potential benefits from the results of this proposed study. The emphasis on polymer liquid crystals in relation to the laser technology should have immediate contributions to the induction of non-linear optical effects including frequency conversion, four wave mixing, laser beam self-focusing, and electro-optical switching. The ultimate goal of this project is to furnish structure-property relations based on extensive analyses of highly pure liquid crystal samples, thereby providing a sound basis for molecular design for existing and new applications.