Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/2289/6602
Title: Synthesis of new liquid crystals embedded gold nanoparticles for photoswitching properties
Authors: Rahman, Md Lutfor
Biswas, Tapan Kumar
Sarkar, Shaheen M
Yusoff, Mashitah Mohd
Yuvaraj, A.R.
Kumar, Sandeep
Issue Date: 15-Sep-2016
Publisher: Elsevier Inc.
Citation: Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 2016, Vol.478, p384
Abstract: A new series of liquid crystals decorated gold nanoparticles is synthesized whose molecular architecture has azobenzenes moieties as the peripheral units connected to gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) via alkyl groups. The morphology and mesomorphic properties were investigated by field emission scanning electron microscope, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and polarizing optical microscopy. The thiolated ligand molecules (3a–c) showed enantiotropic smectic A phase, whereas gold nanoparticles (5a–c) exhibit nematic and smectic A phase with monotropic nature. HR-TEM measurement showed that the functionalized Au NPs are of the average size of 2 nm and they are well dispersed without any aggregation. The trans-form of azo compounds showed a strong band in the UV region at ∼378 nm for the π-π∗ transition, and a weak band in the visible region at ∼472 nm due to the n-π∗ transition. These molecules exhibit attractive photoisomerization behaviour in which trans-cis transition takes about 15 s whereas the cis-trans transition requires about 45 min for compound 5c. The extent of reversible isomerization did not decay after 10 cycles, which proved that the photo-responsive properties of 5c were stable and repeatable. Therefore, these materials may be suitably exploited in the field of molecular switches and the optical storage devices.
Description: Restricted Access.
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2289/6602
ISSN: 0021-9797
Alternative Location: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2016.06.039
Copyright: 2016 Elsevier Inc
Appears in Collections:Research Papers (SCM)

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