Liquid crystal and gel properties of fluorine containing compound

A series of (2-perfluorohexyl)-ethoxy phenyl 4-alkyl benzoate (F6H2 OPCnB) was synthesized, and liquid crystals (LCs) and gelation properties were studied. The isotropic temperature (T (I)) showed good even-odd effect. The compound with an odd number of carbon atoms in the alkyl chain possessed a higher temperature. T-m showed weak even-odd effect. However the transition showed an opposite alternation. The mesomorphic structure of those compounds was smectic A or E. The structure of the compound was bimolecular kinked structure. F6H2 OPCnB gel (10 wt.% in propylene carbonate) was studied. T-gel of F6H2 OPC2B showed the highest value due to its high T-m (crystal melting temperature). T-gel (gel melting temperature) was strongly dependent on T-m. F6H2 OPC6 B gel showed the highest value in heat of fusion. The gel's heat of fusion was a good parameter of the gel stability.