Main-chain side-chain combined liquid crystalline polymers bearing azobenzene and biphenyl-based mesogens – segregation of the mesogens within two distinct layers

Two different mesogenic units, namely biphenyl and azobenzene, were installed centrally within the polymer backbone pendant alkylene segments; purpose was to examine if chain folding of occurs so as segregate azobenzene units in adjacent layers a smectic-type ordering. sets isomeric main-chain side-chain liquid crystalline polymers (MCSC-LCPs), SC-AzoCx-MC-BPCx SC-BPCx-MC-AzoCx (x=6 or 10), synthesised; former series has side-chain, while their locations are switched latter. It observed that all four semicrystalline at room temperature exhibited smectic mesophase upon melting. DSC X-ray scattering studies revealed switching biphenyls had little effect on; phase transition temperatures layer spacings. A second series, SC-AzoCx-MC-BPCy SC-BPCx-MC-AzoCy, where length spacers (Cx) (Cy) is different, also studied; this done influence unequal segment lengths on structure interlayer spacing, importantly, whether zigzag folding-induced formation layered retained, despite unsymmetrical nature.