| AVS 54th International Symposium | |
| Surface Science | Thursday Sessions |
| Session SS-ThP |
| Session: | Surface Science Poster Session |
| Presenter: | A. Jeewandara, University of Nevada, Reno |
| Authors: | A. Jeewandara, University of Nevada, Reno S.M. Casey, University of Nevada, Reno |
| Correspondent: | Click to Email |
We report the control of molecular orientation and differential conductivity in solid films through self-organization and induced orientation processes. We synthesized water-soluble cationic 3,4,9,10-perylene diimide and derivatives and formed chromonic N phases (nematic lyotropic liquid crystalline phases) at room temperature upon solution concentration. Upon induced alignment (by shearing) of the chromonic N phase on a substrate and removal of solvent, anisotropic solid films of the dichroic dyes were produced. By use of a combination of polarized UV-vis and FT-IR spectroscopies, the orientation of the average molecular plane in these films was determined to be perpendicular to both the shearing direction and the substrate plane. The effect of molecular orientation on the differential conductivities in the films will be discussed.