Frustration between syn- and anticlinicity in mixtures of chiral and non-chiral tilted smectic-c-type liquid crystals

in European Physical Journal E. Soft Matter (2005), 18(1), 113-121

We study the effects of mixing ferroelectric and antiferroelectric liquid-crystal compounds (FLCs and AFLCs) when the former are strictly synclinic and the latter strictly anticlinic, i.e. one mixture ... [more ▼]

We study the effects of mixing ferroelectric and antiferroelectric liquid-crystal compounds (FLCs and AFLCs) when the former are strictly synclinic and the latter strictly anticlinic, i.e. one mixture component exhibits only SmC* and the other only SmCa* as tilted phase. Three different paths between syn- and anticlinicity were detected: transition directly between SmC* and SmCa*, transition via the SmCβ* and SmCγ* subphases, or by “escaping” the clinicity frustration by reducing the tilt to zero, i.e. the SmA* phase is extended downwards in temperature, separating SmC* from SmCa* in the phase diagram. The most common path is the one via the subphases, demonstrating that these phases appear as a result of frustration between syn- and anticlinic and, consequently, between syn- and antipolar order. For assessing the role of chirality, we also replaced the FLC with non-chiral synclinics. With one of the AFLCs, the route via supbhases was detected even in this case, suggesting that chirality —although necessary— does not have quite the importance that has previously been attributed to the appearance of the subphases. The path chosen in the mixture study seemed to be determined mainly by the synclinic component, the subphase induction occurring only when the SmA*-SmC* transition was second order. [less ▲]

Generation of frustrated liquid crystal phases by mixing an achiral n–smc mesogen with an antiferroelectric chiral smectic liquid crystal

in Journal of Chemical Physics (2005), 122(14), 144906

By mixing the achiral liquid crystal HOAB, exhibiting a nematic (N)-smectic-C (SmC) mesophase sequence, with the chiral antiferroelectric liquid crystal (AFLC) (S,S)-M7BBM7, forming the antiferroelectric ... [more ▼]

By mixing the achiral liquid crystal HOAB, exhibiting a nematic (N)-smectic-C (SmC) mesophase sequence, with the chiral antiferroelectric liquid crystal (AFLC) (S,S)-M7BBM7, forming the antiferroelectric SmCa phase, at least seven different mesophases have been induced which neither component forms on its own: a twist-grain-boundary (TGB) phase, two or three blue phases, the untilted SmA phase, as well as all three chiral smectic-C-type ``subphases,'' SmCalpha, SmCbeta, and SmCgamma. The nature of the induced phases and the transitions between them were determined by means of optical and electro-optical investigations, dielectric spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. The induced phases can to a large extent be understood as a result of frustration, TGB at the border between nematic and smectic, the subphases between syn and anticlinic tilted smectic organization. X ray scattering experiments reveal that the smectic layer spacing as well as the degree of smectic order is relatively constant in the whole mixture composition range in which AFLC behavior prevails, whereas both these parameters rapidly decrease as the amount of HOAB is increased to such an extent that no other smectic-C-type phase than SmC/SmC exists. By tailoring the composition we are able to produce liquid crystal mixtures exhibiting unusual phase sequences, e.g., with a direct isotropic-SmCa transition or a temperature range of the SmCbeta subphase of about 50 K. (C) 2005 American Institute of Physics. [less ▲]

On the coexistence of SmC* and SmCa* phases in binary chiral-dopant antiferroelectric mixtures

in Ferroelectrics (2000), 244

We present the results from investigations on a series of binary chiral- dopant liquid-crystalline mixtures. The racemic host materials possess tilted smectic phases with varying strengths of synclinic ... [more ▼]

We present the results from investigations on a series of binary chiral- dopant liquid-crystalline mixtures. The racemic host materials possess tilted smectic phases with varying strengths of synclinic and anticlinic ordering (SmC and SmCalt phases respectively). The dopants used were either a strongly synclinic-favouring non liquid-crystalline chiral material (commonly used in FLC chiral-dopant mixtures) or a strongly anticlinic (antiferroelectric) material ((S)-MHPOBC). The electrooptic and dielectric properties of the mixtures were investigated in test cells of different thickness and the influence of each mixture component on the observed physical properties is discussed. [less ▲]

Electrooptic and dielectric spectroscopy measurements of binary chiral-dopant antiferroelectric mixtures

in Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals (1999), 351

Recent examinations on binary chiral-dopant antiferroelectric liquid crystalline mixtures revealed an unusual switching behaviour. In order to investigate the switching processes that take place in the ... [more ▼]

Recent examinations on binary chiral-dopant antiferroelectric liquid crystalline mixtures revealed an unusual switching behaviour. In order to investigate the switching processes that take place in the mixtures, both in the bulk and as influenced by surfaces, further electrooptic and dielec- tric spectroscopy studies have been carried out on two model binary mix- tures in the induced SmA*, SmC* and SmCA* phases. The dielectric spectra feature the different modes typical for these phases, but of varying purity, indicating a more complex phase behaviour than expected. The electrooptic behaviour in the antiferroelectric phase varied from clearly antiferroelectric to near hysteresis-free switching directly between ferro- electric states. We conclude that the phase sequence, and consequently switching behaviour, is a function of both the type of dopant used and of the strength of the surface interactions (cell thickness). In thin cells syn- clinic (ferroelectric) ordering appears to be favoured. [less ▲]