Micro-focus synhrotron X-ray diffraction study of novel mesomorphic porphyrin derivatives*

The mesophase structures of three novel mesomorphic porphyrin derivatives were examined using polarized optical microscopy and microfocus synchrotron X-ray diffraction at various temperatures using a beam with a 14 $\mu $m$\times $14$\mu $m cross-section at the bending magnet beamline of Sector 20 at the Advanced Photon Source. The x rays were diffracted from microscopic monodomains in thin glass cells while simultaneously observing the optical textures. The results confirmed a hexagonal arrangement of discotic columns in the liquid crystalline phase. At a lower temperature, highly ordered plastic crystal phase was obtained. The results of the microdiffraction experiment and promising properties of these compounds as a carrier transporting material will be presented.