Liquid Crystal for Longwave Infrared Applications
AssigneeThe Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsJawad Naciri, Christopher M. Spillmann, Jakub Kolacz, Henry G. Gotjen, Jason D. Myers, Jesse A. Frantz, Robel Y. Bekele
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Abstract
Liquid crystal molecules are described with desirably reduced attenuation in portions of the long-wave infrared (LWIR) spectrum. The molecules include a linear hydrocarbon of varying length (CnH2n+1, where n, for example, is from 4-7), a deuterated phenyl core comprising 2 or 3 rings, and one terminal cyano group. These enable electro-optic such as light modulators, phased arrays, polarization gratings, refractive steerers, and the like, operable at LWIR.
Claims7
A liquid crystal molecule consisting of:
- a C—H chain having the formula CnH2n+1 where n is from 4 to 7, inclusive, a deuterated phenyl core comprising 2 or 3 rings, and one terminal cyano group positioned opposite to the C—H chain.
An electro-optic device comprising:
- a liquid crystal (LC) comprising molecules consisting of a C—H chain of varying length (CnH2n+1), a deuterated phenyl core comprising 2 or 3 rings, and one terminal cyano group;
- and
- at least one electrode configured to apply a voltage to the liquid crystal effective to alter optical properties of the liquid crystal,
- wherein the molecules are selected from the group consisting of 4CBd8, 5CBd8, 6CBd8, 7CBd8, 5CTd12, and 6CTd12.
A method of preparing a deuterated liquid crystal molecule, comprising:
- reacting 1-phenylpentane-d5 with bromine to produce 1-bromo-4-pentylbenzene-d4;
- reacting the 1-bromo-4-pentylbenzene-d4 with butyl-lithium and tri-isopropyl borate to produce (4-pentylphenyl)boronic acid-d4;
- and
- reacting the (4-pentylphenyl)boronic acid-d4 with 4-bromobenzonitrile-d4, tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium (0) and aqueous sodium carbonate to produce 4′-pentyl-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonitrile-d8.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.