Abstract
The changes in conformation and organization of poly(di-n-hexylsilane) (PDHS) chains initiated by heating the films above the phase transition temperature are investigated by optical spectroscopy, polarizing optical microscopy, and birefringence techniques. Appearance of two new absorption bands is observed after thermal treatment of the samples and explained by transition of PDHS into liquid-crystalline (LC) phase. Existence of the LC phase is confirmed by presence of birefringence in PDHS films at these temperatures and by stable orientation of nematic liquid crystal disposed on the thermally treated polymer. A pattern corresponding to classical columnar liquid-crystalline optical textures is observed under polarizing optical microscope above the phase transition temperature. An increased orientational order and defects created at cooling the polymer films down to room temperature are manifested by several new absorption and luminescence bands.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 137-143 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering |
| Volume | 5122 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2002 |
| Event | PROCEEDINGS OF SPIE SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering: Advanced Organic and Inorganic Optical Materials - Riga, Latvia Duration: 2002 Aug 19 → 2002 Aug 22 |
Keywords
- Absorption spectra
- Birefringence
- Liquid-crystalline phase
- Polarizing optical microscopy
- Poly(di-n-hexylsilane)