Issue 33, 2018

Supercooling of functional alkyl-π molecular liquids

Abstract

Metastable states of soft matters are extensively used in designing stimuli-responsive materials. However, the non-steady properties may obstruct consistent performance. Here we report an approach to eradicate the indistinguishable metastable supercooled state of functional molecular liquids (FMLs), which remains as a liquid for weeks or months before crystallizing, via rational molecular design. The phases (solid, kinetically stable liquid, and supercooled liquid) of a model FML, branched alkyl chain-substituted 9,10-diphenylanthracene (DPA), are found to be governed by subtle alterations of the molecular structure (alkyl-DPA ratio and bulkiness of the DPA unit). We thus outline molecular design principles to avoid supercooled FML formation. Moreover, we demonstrate a practical technique to rapidly discriminate supercooled FMLs (within 5 h) by accelerating their crystallization in differential scanning calorimetry heating via pre-annealing or relatively slow scanning.

Graphical abstract: Supercooling of functional alkyl-π molecular liquids

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Edge Article
Submitted
21 Jun 2018
Accepted
16 Jul 2018
First published
17 Jul 2018
This article is Open Access

All publication charges for this article have been paid for by the Royal Society of Chemistry
Creative Commons BY-NC license

Chem. Sci., 2018,9, 6774-6778

Supercooling of functional alkyl-π molecular liquids

F. Lu, K. Jang, I. Osica, K. Hagiwara, M. Yoshizawa, M. Ishii, Y. Chino, K. Ohta, K. Ludwichowska, K. J. Kurzydłowski, S. Ishihara and T. Nakanishi, Chem. Sci., 2018, 9, 6774 DOI: 10.1039/C8SC02723D

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