The well-designed combination of complementary electron-rich and electron-poor aromatics can lead to the self-assembly of mixed-stack charge-transfer materials, sometimes termed donor-acceptor columnar liquid crystals (DACLCs). Here, we describe the investigation of a series of anthracene-based donors mixed with various naphthalenediimide (NDI) acceptors to form new DACLC materials. The structure of the columnar phase in these materials is shown to vary with the substitution pattern of groups on the donor molecules, significantly affecting the intensity of the charge-transfer absorbance of the DACLCs. In specific cases, a columnar lamellar phase (Col<sub>L</sub>) is observed, resulting in highly directional phase formation. The resulting films are strongly dichroic in the visible region, with dichroic ratios at λ<sub>max</sub> exceeding 20 for linear polarized light oriented parallel vs. orthogonal to the direction of film growth.

Structural control of modular aromatic charge-transfer liquid crystals leads to strongly dichroic organic films

251st National Meeting (2016)

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