Here, we present the protocols of differential-detection analyses of time-resolved infrared vibrational spectroscopy and electron diffraction which enable observations of the deformations of local structures around photoexcited molecules in a columnar liquid crystal, giving an atomic perspective on the relationship between the structure and the dynamics of this photoactive material.
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Method Article
Novel Techniques for Observing Structural Dynamics of Photoresponsive Liquid Crystals
In This Article
Summary
Abstract
We discuss in this article the experimental measurements of the molecules in liquid crystal (LC) phase using the time-resolved infrared (IR) vibrational spectroscopy and time-resolved electron diffraction. Liquid crystal phase is an important state of matter that exists between the solid and liquid phases and it is common in natural systems as well as in organic electronics. Liquid crystals are orientationally ordered but loosely packed, and therefore, the internal conformations and alignments of the molecular components of LCs can be modified by external stimuli. Although advanced time-resolved diffraction techniques have revealed picosecond-scale molecular dynamics of single crystals and polycrystals, direct observations of packing structures and ultrafast dynamics of soft materials have been hampered by blurry diffraction patterns. Here, we report time-resolved IR vibrational spectroscopy and electron diffractometry to acquire ultrafast snapshots of a columnar LC material bearing a photoactive core moiety. Differential-detection analyses of the combination of time-resolved IR vibrational spectroscopy and electron diffraction are powerful tools for characterizing structures and photoinduced dynamics of soft materials.
Introduction
Liquid crystals (LCs) have a variety of functions and are widely used in scientific and technological applications1,2,3,4,5,6. The behavior of LCs can be attributed to their orientational ordering as well as to the high mobility of their molecules. A molecular structure of LC materials is typically characterized by a mesogen core and long flexible carbon chains that ensure high mobility of the LC molecules. Under external stimuli7,
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Protocol
1.Time-Resolved Infrared Vibrational Spectroscopy
- Sample preparation
- Solution: Dissolve the π-extended cyclooctatetraene (π-COT) molecules into dichloromethane with proper concentration (1 mmol/L).
- LC phase: Melt the π-COT powder on a calcium fluoride (CaF2) substrate using hot plate at the temperature of 100 °C. Cool the sample at a room temperature.
Note: We need to choose a material (CaF2 or barium fluoride (BaF2)) that is transparent in mid-IR range.
- Apparatus setting-up
- Switch on the titanium sapphir....
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Results
We chose a saddle-shaped π-COT skeleton43,44 as a photoactive core unit of the LC molecule, because it forms a well-defined columnar stacking structure and because the central eight-membered COT ring is expected to show a photoinduced conformational change into a flat form owing to the excited-state aromaticity19,45. Synthetic process of this material is provided in previo.......
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Discussion
The crucial step of the process during the time-resolved electron diffraction measurements is maintaining the high voltage (75 keV) without current fluctuation since the distance between the photocathode and anode plate is only ~10 mm. If the current fluctuates above the range of 0.1 µA before or during the experiments, increase the acceleration voltage up to 90 keV to discharge and set it again to 75 keV. This conditioning process has to be done until the current fluctuates in the range of 0.1 µA. The proper d.......
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Disclosures
The authors have nothing to disclose.
Acknowledgements
We thank Dr. S. Tanaka at Tokyo Institute of Technology for time-resolved IR vibrational spectroscopy measurements and Prof. M. Hara and Dr. K. Matsuo at Nagoya University for XRD measurements. We also thanks Prof. S. Yamaguchi at Nagoya University, Prof. R. Herges at Kiel University and Prof. R. J. D. Miller at the Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter for valuable discussion.
This work is supported by the Japanese Science Technology (JST), PRESTO, for funding the projects "Molecular technology and creation of new functions" (Grant Number of JPMJPR13KD, JPMJPR12K5, and JPMJPR16P6) and "Chemical conversion of light e....
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Materials
| Name | Company | Catalog Number | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chirped pulse amplifier | Spectra Physics Inc. | Spitfire ACE | For time-resolved IR vibration spectroscopy |
| Chirped pulse amplifier | Spectra Physics Inc. | Spitfire XP | For time-resolved electron diffractometry |
| Femtosecond laser | Spectra Physics Inc. | Tsunami | For time-resolved IR vibration spectroscopy |
| Femtosecond laser | Spectra Physics Inc. | Tsunami | For time-resolved electron diffractometry |
| Optical parametric amplifier | Light Conversion Ltd. | TOPAS prime | |
| 64-channel mercury cadmium tellurium IR detector array | Infrared Systems Development Corporation | FPAS-6416-D | |
| FT-IR spectrometer | Shimadzu Corporation | IR Prestige-21 | |
| High voltage supply | Matsusada precision | HER-100N0.1 | |
| Rotary pump | Edwards | RV12 | |
| Molecular turbo pumps | Agilent Technologies Japan, Ltd. | Twis Torr 304FS | |
| Vacuum gauges | Pfeiffer vacuum systems gmbh | PKR251 | For ICF70 flange |
| Vacuum monitors | Pfeiffer vacuum systems gmbh | TPG261 | |
| Fiber coupled CCD camera | Andor Technology Ltd. | iKon-L HF | |
| BaF2 and CaF2 substrates | Pier optics | Thickness 3 mm | |
| AgGaS2 crystal | Phototechnica Corporation | Custom-order | |
| BBO crystals | Tokyo Instruments, Inc. | SHG θ=29.2 deg THG θ=44.3 deg | |
| calcite crystals | Tokyo Instruments, Inc. | Thickness 1mm | |
| Optical mirrors | Thorlabs | PF10-03-F01 PF10-03-M01 UM10-45A | Al coat mirrors Au coat mirrors Ultrafast mirrors |
| Optical mirrors | HIKARI,Inc. | Broadband mirrors | |
| Dichroic mirrors | HIKARI,Inc. | Custom-order Reflection: 266 nm Transmission: 400, 800 nm | |
| Optical chopper | Newport Corporation | 3501 optical chopper | |
| Optical shutters | Thorlabs Inc. | SH05/M SC10 | |
| Optical shutters | SURUGA SEIKI CO.,LTD. | F116-1 | |
| Beam splitters | Thorlabs Inc. | BSS11R | |
| Fused-silica lenses | Thorlabs Inc. | LA4663 LA4184 | |
| BaF2 lens | Thorlabs Inc. | LA0606-E | |
| Polarized mirrors | Sigmakoki Co.,Ltd | Custom-order Designed for 800 nm Reflection: s-polarized light Transmission : p-polarized light | |
| Half waveplate | Thorlabs Inc. | WPH05M-808 | |
| Mirror mounts | Thorlabs Inc. | POLARIS-K1 KM100 | Kinematic mirror mounts |
| Mirror mounts | Sigmakoki Co.,Ltd | MHAN-30M MHAN-30S | Gimbal mirror mounts |
| Mirror mounts | Newport Corporation | ACG-3K-NL | Gimbal mirror mounts |
| Variable ND filters | Thorlabs Inc. | NDC-25C-2M | |
| Beam splitter mounts | Thorlabs Inc. | KM100S | |
| Lens mounts | Thorlabs Inc. | LMR1/M | |
| Rotational mounts | Thorlabs Inc. | RSP1/M | |
| Retroreflector | Edmund Optics | 63.5MM X 30" EN-AL | |
| spectrometers | ocean photonics | USB-4000 | |
| Power meter | Ophir | 30A-SH | Used for intensity monitor of CPA |
| Power meter | Thorlabs Inc. | S120VC PM100USB | Used for intensity measurements of pump pulse |
| Photodiodes | Thorlabs Inc. | DET36A/M DET25K/M | |
| DC power supply | TEXIO | PW18-1.8AQ | Used for magnetic lens |
| Magnetic lens | Nissei ETC Co.,Ltd | Custom-order | |
| Stages | Newport Corporation | M-MVN80V6 LTAHLPPV6 | Used for magnetic lens |
| Stage controller | Newport Corporation | SMC100 | |
| Stages | Sigmakoki Co.,Ltd | SGSP20-35(X) SGSP20-85(X) | Used for sample position |
| Stages | Sigmakoki Co.,Ltd | SGSP26-200(X) OSMS26-300(X) | Used for delay time generator |
| Stage controller | Sigmakoki Co.,Ltd | SHOT-304GS | |
| Picoammeter | Laboratory built | ||
| spin coater | MIKASA Co.,Ltd | 1H-D7 | |
| hot plate | IKA® | C-MAG HP7 | |
| SiN wafer | Silson Ltd | Custom-order | |
| KOH aqueous solution (50%) | Hiroshima Wako Co.,Ltd. | 168-20455 | |
| Chloroform | Hiroshima Wako Co.,Ltd. | 038-18495 | |
| Dichloromethane | Hiroshima Wako Co.,Ltd. | 132-02456 | |
| Personal computers for the controlling programs | Epson Corporate | Endeavor MR7300E-L | 32-bit operation system |
| Program for the control the equipment | National Instruments Corporation | Labview2016 | |
| Program for the data analysis | The MathWorks, Inc. | Matlab2015b |
References
- Van Haaren, J., Broer, D. In search of the perfect image. Chem. Ind. 24, 1017-1021 (1998).
- Handbook of Liquid Crystals. Goodby, J. W., Collings, P. J., Kato, T., Tschierske, C., Gleeson, H. F., Raynes, P. , Wiley-VCH. Weinheim. (2014).
- Liquid Crystal Beyond Displays. Li, Q. , John Wiely & Sons. Hoboken. (2012).
- Kato, T.
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