Background
With the rapid development of modern communication technology, liquid crystal materials are no longer used only in optoelectronic displays (liquid crystal displays — LCDs) to display information, but also begin to show new corners in terms of optical information such as microwave radar, precision guidance and wireless broadband communication, for example, microwave components of devices for shifting the phase of microwaves, in particular phase shifters and microwave antenna arrays.
The research of the liquid crystal used for the microwave device starts at the end of the last century and develops at a high speed in the beginning of the century; especially, the microwave phase tunable filter has gained worldwide attention in recent years, and is rapidly developed, and researches show that the microwave phase tunable filter can be used in important fields such as tunable filters, reconfigurable antennas, tunable frequency selectors, tunable phase shifters, and the like, for example, in 1993, Lim K.C. et al apply 16V bias voltage according to an electric control birefringence effect by using a commercial liquid crystal K15, obtain 20-degree phase shift at 10.5GHz frequency, and realize microwave phase tunable; in 2002, Germany reports a planar integrated liquid crystal tunable phase shifter, which obtains a phase shift of 53 degrees around the frequency of 18GHz and is generally regarded by the world colleagues.
Nevertheless, there are fundamental problems to be solved in many aspects of the related key technologies, such as liquid crystal materials, alignment, packaging, wiring, device design and functional characterization, and especially there are few research reports on liquid crystal materials. For ease of understanding, the relevant performance parameters for liquid crystal materials are presented below: Δ ∈ represents dielectric anisotropy; Δ n represents optical anisotropy, i.e., refractive index (589nm, 25 ℃); iso, clearing point temperature (deg.c) which is the phase state of the liquid crystal composition; the dielectric anisotropy in the microwave range is defined as: delta epsilonrTbd (epsilonr | -epsilonr 0); tunability (τ) is defined as: τ ≡ (Δ ε 2r/ε r |); the material quality (η) is defined as: η ≡ (τ/tan ∈ 1r max.), maximum dielectric loss is: tan δ ∈ r max. { tan δ ∈ r | }, tan δ ∈ r | }. The dielectric loss refers to microwave wave frequency loss caused by wave frequency absorption generated when microwaves (4-40 GHZ) irradiate or pass through the liquid crystal material, and is generally called microwave insertion loss; exhibits a dielectric constant 'Delta epsilon' in the liquid crystal materialr", the dielectric constant is divided into a component" ε which is parallel to the long axis of the liquid crystalr/' and vertical component ∈rT', the value of the dielectric constant is delta epsilonr=εr∥-εrT, adding a solvent; physically to the microwaveThe quantitative expression for "dielectric loss" is: tangent value of dielectric loss (tan. delta. epsilon.)rT, or tan delta epsilonr max) Is a main performance index parameter reflecting the liquid crystal material in a microwave field and generally requires tan delta epsilonrT (or tan delta epsilon)r max) A value of less than or equal to about 0.03 and tan delta epsilonrThe value of | is less than or equal to about 0.005. The birefringence is an expression method of optical anisotropy of liquid crystal compound and mixed liquid crystal material, and refers to that light passes through the liquid crystal material and is refracted and scattered by liquid crystal to form ordinary light and extraordinary light, the ordinary light refractive index represents ' no ', and the extraordinary light refractive index represents ' ne", the birefringence is represented by" Δ n ", and" Δ n ═ no-ne", the microwave high frequency device requires the delta n value to be more than or equal to 0.30, and the higher the delta n value is, the more beneficial the microwave phase shift quantity is to be improved. The liquid crystal material with high dielectric anisotropy, high optical anisotropy and low dielectric loss is used as the liquid crystal material with high dielectric anisotropy, high optical anisotropy and low dielectric loss; the microwave has small dielectric loss after being irradiated by the liquid crystal material, and the tan delta epsilon r is reverse (or the tan delta epsilon)r max) The value is lower than about 0.015, and the value of tan delta epsilon r is lower than 0.004. The phase modulation coefficient of the microwave liquid crystal phase shifter is expressed as tau, and reflects the parameter of the phase modulation capability of the liquid crystal material to the microwave frequency, wherein tau is more than or equal to 0.15 and less than or equal to 0.5. The "quality factor" (eta, or FOM) of liquid crystal refers to the comprehensive evaluation result of the performance after microwave passes through the liquid crystal, which reflects the performance and quality of the liquid crystal material, and eta is generally required to be more than or equal to 15.
The first used liquid crystals were K15, E7 from Merck, germany, with Δ n values below 0.2, small Δ ∈ r values at high frequencies, large dielectric losses, excessively thick LC cells (d ═ 254 μm), response times exceeding 350 ms; then GT3-23001 liquid crystal of Merck company is used, the value of delta n is about 0.3, delta epsilon r reaches 0.8 under high frequency, the dielectric loss is obviously reduced, and the phase shift amount is increased; in recent years, German Merck company reports that an isothiocyanato-polycyclic aromatic acetylene type high-delta n mixed liquid crystal material has a delta n value of about 0.25-0.30, improves the dielectric property of a microwave device, and still has large dielectric loss. Herman J. et al report that in 2013 and 2015, isothiocyanato-lateral ethyl tetraphenyl diacetylene liquid crystal compounds (delta n is more than or equal to 0.6) are obvious in microwave phase shift amountBut the dielectric loss is larger and the melting point of the material is high. In 2013, Reuter M. et al report the influence of high frequency on wave absorption of different end groups such as-F, -CN, -NCS and the like. 2017 Dziadiuszek J et al reported that the end groups were NCS, CN, F, OCF3The influence of the terminal groups on dielectric anisotropy of GHz and THz bands is analyzed and compared by using a liquid crystal composition with the Delta n of 0.45 prepared from the lateral fluorobiphenyl acetylene series compounds. The change condition of the optical tunability of the fluorine-containing tolane isothiocyanate liquid crystal composition along with the temperature in the 6GHz frequency band is reported by Kowerdziej R.et al in 2018, and the fact that the microwave phase tunability (tau) and the dielectric property (delta n) of the liquid crystal are not obvious along with the temperature change shows that the structural units such as isothiocyanates, ethynyls and the like are stable to microwaves. Recently, Lapanik V. et al, based on Kowerdziej R, adopted the isothiocyanato-polyaromatic ring mixed liquid crystal material, further reduced the dielectric loss, and also increased the microwave phase shift; the influence of the stability of groups and bridges in the molecular structure on dielectric loss is disclosed, but the melting point of the material is still above 0 ℃, and the outdoor use requirement cannot be met.
In order to comprehensively evaluate the performance parameters of the liquid crystal material under microwave, the formula FoM ═ tau/tan delta epsilon is introducedr·maxThat is, the larger the dielectric anisotropy is, the larger the phase modulation capability is, the smaller the loss is, the larger the quality factor is, and the better the performance of the liquid crystal material is also shown; the nematic phase temperature range of the liquid crystal material determines the working temperature range of the liquid crystal microwave device, and the wider nematic phase temperature interval of the liquid crystal material means the wider working temperature range of the microwave device. However, most of the existing liquid crystal materials are low dielectric anisotropic compositions, which have the problem of high dielectric loss, and are not suitable for high frequency device applications.
Disclosure of Invention
The main purpose of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal composition with high dielectric anisotropy and a high frequency component, which aims to reduce the dielectric loss of the liquid crystal material.
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a liquid crystal composition with high dielectric anisotropy, which comprises 1 to 15 mass% of component a, 40 to 92 mass% of component B, 5 to 25 mass% of component C, and 1 to 40 mass% of component D, wherein:
the component A is at least one of compounds with the structure shown in the following structural formula (I):
the component B is at least one of compounds with the structure shown in the following structural formula (II):
the component C is at least one of compounds with the structure shown in the following structural formula (III):
the component D is at least one of compounds with the structure shown in the following structural formula (IV):
wherein R is1、L1、L3And L5Each independently selected from CnH2n+1、O-CnH2n+1Or CH2=CH-(CH2)Z,L2Is a F atom or-NCS, R2、L4And L6Each independently selected from CmH2m+1、O-CmH2m+1Or (CH)2)Z-CH=CH2And n and m are each independently selected from any integer within the range of 1 to 6, and z is any integer within the range of 1 to 4; x1、X2、X3、X4、X5、X6、X7、X8、X9、X10、X11And X12Each independently selected from a H atom or a F atom; y is1is-CH3、-CH2CH3Or a F atom.
Preferably, R1、L1、L3And L5Each independently selected from CnH2n+1Or CH2=CH-(CH2)Z,R2、L4And L6Each independently selected from CmH2m+1Or (CH)2)Z-CH=CH2And n and m are each independently selected from any integer in the range of 2 to 6, and z is any integer in the range of 2 to 4.
Preferably, R1、L1、L3、L5、R2、L4And L6Each independently selected from alkyl groups of 2 to 6 carbon atoms.
Preferably, the component A is at least one selected from the group consisting of compounds having the structures represented by the following structural formulae (I-1) to (I-6):
preferably, the component B is at least one selected from the group consisting of compounds having the structures represented by the following structural formulae (II-1) to (II-3):
preferably, the component C is at least one selected from compounds having a structure represented by the following structural formula (III-1):
preferably, the component D is at least one selected from the group consisting of compounds having the structures represented by the following structural formulae (IV-1) to (IV-3):
preferably, the birefringence of the component A, the component B, the component C and the component D is 0.30-0.42.
The invention also proposes a high-frequency component comprising a liquid crystal composition as described above.
Preferably, the high frequency component is a microwave phase shifter or a microwave array antenna.
In the technical scheme provided by the invention, the component A, the component B, the component C and the component D in the liquid crystal composition have the advantages of low dielectric loss and high quality factor, and the nematic liquid crystal composition formed by combining the components has low dielectric loss, high phase modulation capability and high quality factor, so that the performance of a high-frequency component can be improved when the nematic liquid crystal composition is used for the high-frequency component.
Detailed Description
In order to make the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below. The examples, in which specific conditions are not specified, were conducted under conventional conditions or conditions recommended by the manufacturer. The reagents or instruments used are not indicated by the manufacturer, and are all conventional products available commercially.
The invention provides a high dielectric anisotropy liquid crystal composition, which is a novel nematic liquid crystal material with a high delta n value, a low melting point, low dielectric loss and a high stable structure formed by mixing a liquid crystal compound containing ethyl quaterphenyl in a side chain with other liquid crystal compounds, and can meet the requirements of a nematic liquid crystal material with high dielectric loss, low consumption and stable low temperature performance required by a microwave device, wherein the high dielectric anisotropy liquid crystal composition comprises a component A with the mass fraction of 1-15%, a component B with the mass fraction of 40-92%, a component C with the mass fraction of 5-25% and a component D with the mass fraction of 1-40%, wherein:
the component A is at least one of compounds with the structure shown in the following structural formula (I):
the component B is at least one of compounds with the structure shown in the following structural formula (II):
the component C is at least one of compounds with the structure shown in the following structural formula (III):
the component D is at least one of compounds with the structure shown in the following structural formula (IV):
wherein R is1、L1、L3And L5Each independently selected from CnH2n+1、O-CnH2n+1Or CH2=CH-(CH2)Z,L2Is a F atom or-NCS, R2、L4And L6Each independently selected from CmH2m+1、O-CmH2m+1Or (CH)2)Z-CH=CH2And n and m are each independently selected from any integer within the range of 1 to 6, and z is any integer within the range of 1 to 4; x1、X2、X3、X4、X5、X6、X7、X8、X9、X10、X11And X12Each independently selected from a H atom or a F atom; y is1is-CH3、-CH2CH3Or a F atom.
In the technical scheme provided by the invention, the component A, the component B, the component C and the component D in the liquid crystal composition have the advantages of low dielectric loss and high quality factor, and the nematic phase liquid crystal composition formed by combining the components according to a specific proportion not only has low dielectric loss, large phase modulation capability and high quality factor, but also has a wide nematic phase temperature range and a low melting point, so that the performance of a high-frequency component can be improved when the nematic phase liquid crystal composition is used for the high-frequency component, and the nematic phase liquid crystal composition is particularly suitable for a microwave phase shifter and a microwave array antenna.
For the component A, the structural formula (I) is preferably: r1Is CnH2n+1Or CH2=CH-(CH2)Z,R2Is CmH2m+1Or (CH)2)Z-CH=CH2N and m are independently selected from any integer in the range of 2-6, and z is any integer in the range of 1-4. Further, R in the formula (I)1More preferably CnH2n+1,R2More preferably CmH2m+1. Further, the component A, when specifically selected, may be at least one selected from the group consisting of compounds having the structures represented by the following structural formulae (I-1) to (I-6):
in the structures shown in the structural formulas (I-1) to (I-6), n and m are independently selected from any integer in the range of 2-6, that is, when the component A is selected from any one of the compounds A1 to A10, the values of n and m in the compounds are not interfered with each other (that is, the number of carbon atoms of alkyl groups at two ends of the compounds can be the same or different); when the component A is selected from a plurality of compounds having the structures represented by the above structural formulae (I-1) to (I-6), not only the values of n and m in the structure shown by each single compound are not interfered with each other (namely, the number of carbon atoms of alkyl groups at two ends of the compound can be the same or different), and the values of n and m in the structural formula of each two compounds are not interfered with each other, for example, when the component A simultaneously comprises the compound with the structure shown in the structural formula (I-1) and the compound with the structure shown in the structural formula (I-2), and when n in the compound of the structure shown in the structural formula (I-1) is 5, m in the compound of the structure shown in the structural formula (I-1) can be any integer in the range of 2-6, and n and m in the compound with the structure shown in the structural formula (I-2) can be any integer within the range of 2-6. The same applies to component B, component C and component D, as described below, with regard to the choice of the number of carbon atoms in the alkyl substituents.
For the component B, the structural formula (II) is preferably: l is1Is CnH2n+1Or CH2=CH-(CH2)Z,L2Is CmH2m+1Or (CH)2)Z-CH=CH2N and m are independently selected from any integer in the range of 2-6, and z is any integer in the range of 1-4. Further, L in the formula (II)1More preferably CnH2n+1,L2More preferably CmH2m+1. Further, the component B, when specifically selected, may be at least one selected from compounds having the structures represented by the following structural formulae (II-1) to (II-3):
for the component C, the structural formula (III) is preferably: l is3Is CnH2n+1Or CH2=CH-(CH2)Z,L4Is CmH2m+1Or (CH)2)Z-CH=CH2N and m are independently selected from any integer in the range of 2-6, and z is any integer in the range of 1-4. Further, L in the formula (III)1More preferably CnH2n+1,L2More preferably CmH2m+1. Further, the component C may be, when specifically selected, at least one selected from the group consisting of compounds having a structure represented by the following structural formula (III-1)The method comprises the following steps:
for the component D, the structural formula (IV) is preferably: l is5Is CnH2n+1Or CH2=CH-(CH2)ZN is selected from any integer within the range of 2-6, and z is selected from any integer within the range of 1-4. Further, L in the structural formula (IV)5More preferably CnH2n+1. Still further, the component D, when specifically selected, may be selected from at least one of compounds having the structures represented by the following structural formulae (IV-1) to (IV-3):
when the components in the liquid crystal composition are specifically selected, the higher the birefringence, the lower the dielectric loss of the liquid crystal composition, and the higher the dielectric anisotropy. In the embodiment, the birefringence of the compounds in the component A, the component B, the component C and the component D is 0.30-0.42, so that the dielectric anisotropy of the liquid crystal composition obtained by combination is close to 1.0 when tested at 18GHz, the dielectric anisotropy value is more than 1.0 when tested at 29GHz, the dielectric loss at the two frequencies is low, the maximum dielectric loss is less than 0.025, the phase modulation coefficient is more than 0.2, and the quality factor is more than 20, therefore, the liquid crystal composition is suitable for being applied in the microwave range and is particularly suitable for microwave communication devices.
Based on the advantages of low dielectric loss and high quality factor of the liquid crystal composition provided by the invention, the liquid crystal composition can be applied to high-frequency components and contributes to improving the performance of the high-frequency components. Furthermore, the invention also provides a high-frequency component, which comprises the liquid crystal composition, and the high-frequency component applying the liquid crystal composition provided by the invention has the dielectric anisotropy of 0.9-1.9 and the maximum dielectric loss tan delta epsilon at 18GHzr maxBetween 0.005 and 0.02.
The high-frequency component may be a component or a device that can be tuned by applying a magnetic field and/or an electric field, such as a tunable phase shifter, and in an embodiment of the high-frequency component provided by the present invention, the high-frequency component is a microwave phase shifter or a microwave array antenna, and the liquid crystal composition provided by the present invention has a better effect of improving the performance of the high-frequency component when applied to the microwave phase shifter or the microwave array antenna.
The technical solutions of the present invention are further described in detail with reference to the following specific examples, which should be understood as merely illustrative and not limitative.
For convenience of description, in the following examples, the compounds represented by the structural formulae mentioned in the above-mentioned component A, component B, component C and component D are classified and named according to the element classification rules shown in the following Table 1, and the naming results are shown in Table 2, and the following examples are further described in combination with the abbreviations shown in Table 2 (in tables 1 and 2, n is 2, 3, 4 or 5, and m is 2, 3, 4 or 5).
TABLE 1 element Classification
TABLE 2 nomenclature abbreviations for the compounds
Structural formula (I)
|
For short
|
Structural formula (I)
|
For short
|
Ⅰ-1
|
nPP(2)GIPm
|
Ⅱ-1
|
nPTP(2)TPm
|
Ⅰ-2
|
nPP(2)PPm
|
Ⅱ-2
|
nUTGTPm
|
Ⅰ-3
|
nPP(2)GPm
|
Ⅱ-3
|
nUTP(1)TPm
|
Ⅰ-4
|
nPP(2)PGm
|
Ⅲ-1
|
nUTPPm
|
Ⅰ-5
|
nUP(2)PUm
|
Ⅳ-1
|
nPGUS
|
Ⅰ-6
|
nPP(2)UPm
|
Ⅳ-2
|
nPPUF
|
|
|
Ⅳ-3
|
nPGUF |
Example 1
The mass fractions (Wt%) of the components and the performance parameters of the liquid crystal composition are shown in table 3.
TABLE 3 Mass fractions and Performance parameters of the components of the liquid crystal composition of example 1
Example 2
The mass fractions (Wt%) of the components and the performance parameters of the liquid crystal composition are shown in table 4.
TABLE 4 Mass fractions and Performance parameters of the components of the liquid-crystal composition of example 2
Example 3
The mass fractions (Wt%) of the components and the performance parameters of the liquid crystal composition are shown in table 5.
TABLE 5 Mass fractions and Performance parameters of the components of the liquid crystal composition of example 3
Example 4
The mass fractions (Wt%) of the components and the performance parameters of the liquid crystal composition are shown in table 6.
TABLE 6 Mass fractions and Performance parameters of the components of the liquid crystal composition of example 4
From the performance parameters of the liquid crystal compositions in the above examples 1 to 4, it can be seen that the liquid crystal composition provided by the embodiment of the present invention has a dielectric anisotropy close to 1 in 18GHz test, a dielectric anisotropy value greater than 1 in 29GHz test, and a dielectric loss at these two frequencies is low, and the quality factor is greater than 20, so that the liquid crystal composition is suitable for application in the microwave range, especially for microwave communication devices.
The above is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, and various modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art. Any modification, equivalent replacement, or improvement made within the spirit and principle of the present invention shall be included in the scope of the present invention.