Synthesis and characterization of a star-shaped nematic discotic liquid crystal containing 1, 3, 5-triazine core and bisazobenzene at the peripheral arms

Abstract

A new three arm liquid crystalline material containing bisazobenzene and linked by flexible spacers (4-propyloxy-[4-biphenyloxyalkyl]-4`-(4-phenylazo)azobenzene has been synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic methods. The transition temperatures and phase behaviors were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarizing optical microscopy (POM). The synthesized compounds exhibited nematic discotic phase and the stability of the layer depends on the spacer length for the compounds.