Twist-bend nematics, liquid crystal dimers, structure–property relations

<p>One of the current challenges in liquid crystal science is to understand the molecular factors leading to the formation of the intriguing twist-bend nematic phase (N_TB) and determine its properties. During our earlier hunt for the N_TB phase created on cooling directly from the isotropic phase and not the nematic phase, we had prepared 30 symmetric liquid crystal dimers. These had odd spacers and methylene links to the two mesogenic groups; desirable but clearly not essential features for the formation of the N_TB. Here, we report the phases that the dimers exhibit and their transition temperatures as functions of both the lengths of the spacer and the terminal chains. In addition we describe the transitional entropies, their optical textures, the X-ray scattering patterns and the ²H NMR spectra employed in characterising the phases. All of which may lead to important properties of the twist-bend nematic phase.</p

Adsorption of Copper and Iron Using Low Cost Material as Adsorbent

In this study, pine fruit was used as solid adsorbent for removal of ferrous and copper ions from aqueous solutions through batch equilibrium technique. The influence of contact time, pH of the solution and initial concentration of metal ions on adsorbed amount of metal ions were investigated. 90 minutes of adsorption time was found sufficient to reach equilibrium for ferrous ion and 120 minutes for copper ion. Adsorption of metal ions were pH dependent and the results indicate the optimum pH for the removal of Fe+2 was found to be 5.0 and that of Cu+2 was 7.0, the highest adsorption capacity was found to be 4.8 and 14.1 mg of metal ion per gram of adsorbent at initial concentration of 22.22 mg/L and 57.6 mg/L of ferrous and copper ions respectively and would be higher with higher initial concentration. Ferrous ion was removed by 96.3 - 97.3% and copper ion by 94.1-96% along the whole range of initial concentrations. Isotherm studies showed that the data were best fitted to the Freundlich isotherm model. The kinetic data corresponded well with the pseudo-second order equation, suggesting that the adsorption process is presumably a chemisorption

Adsorption of Copper and Iron Using Low Cost Material as Adsorbent

In this study, pine fruit was used as solid adsorbent for removal of ferrous and copper ions from aqueous solutions through batch equilibrium technique. The influence of contact time, pH of the solution and initial concentration of metal ions on adsorbed amount of metal ions were investigated. 90 minutes of adsorption time was found sufficient to reach equilibrium for ferrous ion and 120 minutes for copper ion. Adsorption of metal ions were pH dependent and the results indicate the optimum pH for the removal of Fe+2 was found to be 5.0 and that of Cu+2 was 7.0, the highest adsorption capacity was found to be 4.8 and 14.1 mg of metal ion per gram of adsorbent at initial concentration of 22.22 mg/L and 57.6 mg/L of ferrous and copper ions respectively and would be higher with higher initial concentration. Ferrous ion was removed by 96.3 - 97.3% and copper ion by 94.1-96% along the whole range of initial concentrations. Isotherm studies showed that the data were best fitted to the Freundlich isotherm model. The kinetic data corresponded well with the pseudo-second order equation, suggesting that the adsorption process is presumably a chemisorption

On the twist-bend nematic phase formed directly from the isotropic phase

The intriguing twist-bend nematic (NTB) phase is formed, primarily, by liquid crystal dimers having odd spacers. Typically, the phase is preceded by a nematic (N) phase via a weak first-order transition. Our aim is to obtain dimers where the NTB phase is formed directly from the isotropic (I) phase via a strong first-order phase transition. The analogy between such behaviour and that of the smectic A (SmA)–N–I sequence suggests that this new dimer will require a short spacer. This expectation is consistent with the prediction of a molecular field theory, since the decrease in the spacer length results in an increase in the molecular curvature. A vector of odd dimers based on benzoyloxybenzylidene mesogenic groups with terminal ethoxy groups has been synthesised with spacers composed of odd numbers of methylene groups. Spacers having 5, 7, 9 and 11 methylene groups are found to possess the conventional phase sequence NTB–N–I; surprisingly, for the propane spacer, the NTB phase is formed directly from the I phase. The properties of these dimers have been studied with care to ensure that the identification of the NTB phase is reliable