title: Nanoscale architectures for molecular electronics: vibrational spectroscopy and structure of solid hexa-n-dodecyl-hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene.
abstract: The solid columnar discotic and liquid-crystalline phases formed by hexa-n-dodecyl-hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene (HBC-C12) have been investigated by IR and Raman vibrational spectroscopies. IR spectra clearly show the two phase transitions at 42 and at 107 degrees C already reported in literature and allow us to understand the conformational modifications of the n-alkyl chains that take place through the transitions. Thanks to the collected data, we propose a model of the structure of HBC-C12 in the solid-crystalline phase below 42 degrees C which includes the structure of the alkyl chains. This model is also confirmed by dichroic infrared microscopy measurements on highly oriented samples.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Chimica, Materiali e Ingegneria Chimica Gulio Natta, NanoEngineered Materials and Surfaces, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carminati
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brambilla
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zerbi
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Muellen
authors.forename: Jishan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu