Synthesis of vertically aligned polyacetylene thin films in homeotropic liquid crystal solvents

Vertically aligned polyacetylene thin films were synthesized in homeotropic nematic liquid crystal (LC) solvents, in which the homeotropic orientation of an LC, 4-(trans-4-n-pentylcyclohexyl)hexyloxybenzene, is strengthened b y addition of newly synthesized LCs having two mesogenic cores, 1,6-bis-[(4 -trans-n-pentylcyclohexyl)phenoxy]hexane or 1,8-bis-[(4-trans-n-pentylcyclo hexyl)phenoxyl octane. Vertically aligned helical polyacetylene thin films were synthesized by adding a chiral dopant into the same LC solvent in orde r to induce chiral nematic phase with homeotropic orientation. (C) 2001 Els evier Science B.V. All rights reserved.