Tuning Aggregation in Liquid‐Crystalline Squaraine Chromophores

For a series of novel hydroxy anilino squaraines (SQ), separated via short flexible spacers from bulky dendrons, hexagonal columnar (Col<sub>hex</sub>) liquid-crystalline (LC) phase behavior is detected. The optical properties of these SQ systems, designed for melting below 80 °C, very low for SQ systems, are found to be determined by the LC structures which in turn are governed by volume and steric effects of the dendrons affecting the temperature-dependent interplay between monomeric species and H-aggregates in the LC state, ultimately responsible for the optical properties. Experimental results are corroborated by self-consistent field theory (SCFT) as well as time-dependent density functional theory calculations (TD-DFT). The results demonstrate a new strategy for dynamically tuning aggregates and optical properties for the prescriptive functionalization of the LC SQ materials and with potential for other aggregating systems.

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Publication Details

Journal
Advanced Science
Published
2025-03-27
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202416249
Citations
2
Primary Topic
Liquid Crystal Research Advancements
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.85

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article

Tuning Aggregation in Liquid‐Crystalline Squaraine Chromophores

Feng Liu, Kai Jiang, Goran Ungar, Gang He et al.
2 citations
Advanced Science
Liquid Crystal Research Advancements
0.85
article

Tuning Aggregation in Liquid‐Crystalline Squaraine Chromophores

Feng Liu, Kai Jiang, Goran Ungar, Gang He, Martin J. Paterson, Sanliang Ling, Gao‐Lei Hou, Georg H. Mehl, Xin Wang, Ying Chen, Tianyi Tan, Changlong Chen, Yu Cao
article en
2 citations

Abstract

For a series of novel hydroxy anilino squaraines (SQ), separated via short flexible spacers from bulky dendrons, hexagonal columnar (Col<sub>hex</sub>) liquid-crystalline (LC) phase behavior is detected. The optical properties of these SQ systems, designed for melting below 80 °C, very low for SQ systems, are found to be determined by the LC structures which in turn are governed by volume and steric effects of the dendrons affecting the temperature-dependent interplay between monomeric species and H-aggregates in the LC state, ultimately responsible for the optical properties. Experimental results are corroborated by self-consistent field theory (SCFT) as well as time-dependent density functional theory calculations (TD-DFT). The results demonstrate a new strategy for dynamically tuning aggregates and optical properties for the prescriptive functionalization of the LC SQ materials and with potential for other aggregating systems.

Advanced ScienceVol. 12(22)
University of Nottingham (GB), University of Hull (GB), Heriot-Watt University (GB), Xiangtan University (CN), Xi'an Jiaotong University (CN), University of Sheffield (GB)
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Life in Land
Openalex Percentile: Top 30%
Liquid Crystal Research Advancements
0.85
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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