Synthesis and characterization of a novel donor–acceptor–donor chiral inducer and its application in electrochemical polymerization

Abstract

A novel chiral inducer having a donor–acceptor–donor structure was synthesized. Its rigid structure allows an increase of miscibility and helical twisting power for the host liquid crystal. The donor–acceptor–donor structure allows visible light absorption. Electrochemical polymerization of an achiral monomer was performed in a cholesteric liquid crystal induced by the inducer. The chiral inducer molecules alone showed right-handed helical aggregation in the solid state, while the inducer produces a left-handed helical arrangement of cholesteric liquid crystals in a nematic liquid crystal. The resultant conjugated polymer films showed circular dichroism and left-handed helical aggregation. Film surfaces displayed a periodic convex–concave structure that was transcribed from the fingerprint texture of the cholesteric liquid crystal electrolytes during the polymerization process.