Thermal behaviour of CODA azoic dye liquid crystal and nanostructuring by drop cast and spin coating techniques

This study comes to complete the initial investigation of the liquid crystalline properties of 4-[(4-chlorobenzyl)oxy]-3,4'-dichloroazobenzene (CODA). Here, the thermal analysis of CODA dye was performed in air flow and nitrogen flow atmospheres by means of simultaneous thermogravimetry TG, derivative thermogravimetry DTG, differential thermal analysis DTA and differential scanning calorimetry DSC; differences between the two steps of the thermal degradation of CODA related to the two experimental atmospheres were observed. Drops cast and spin coating techniques were used for nanostructuring CODA on platinum (Pt) substrates; the deposited materials were characterised by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Exotic crystalline nanowires of CODA were obtained as function of used deposition technique, while the deposition time decisively influenced their features. The present results advocate for employing these materials as template matrices for producing high-aspect-ratio inorganic nanomaterials (i.e. Au) in the form of nanotubes, nanowires, nanorods or nanoparticles with enhanced functional properties.