Chiral smectic C subphases induced by mixing a bistereogenic antiferroelectric liquid crystal with a non-chiral liquid crystal

in Ferroelectrics (2005), 315

By mixing a bistereogenic antiferroelectric liquid crystal (AFLC) compound, exhibiting only the SmQ and SmCa mesophases, with the achiral N-SmC liquid crystal HOAB we could induce all three AFLC SmC-type ... [more ▼]

By mixing a bistereogenic antiferroelectric liquid crystal (AFLC) compound, exhibiting only the SmQ and SmCa mesophases, with the achiral N-SmC liquid crystal HOAB we could induce all three AFLC SmC-type subphases, SmCalpha, SmCbeta and SmCgamma. This seems to be in contradiction with two recent postulations regarding the subphase stability, one of which suggests that the subphases appear as a result of strong chiral interactions, the other that these phases require high smectic order something one would generally not expect in mixtures. We have studied the helical pitch, optical tilt angle, spontaneous polarization and the x-ray diffraction due to the smectic layering, as a function of mixing ratio in order to better understand the relation between phase sequence and mixture composition. The smectic layer spacing shows a strongly non-linear behavior suggesting that the basic structure of the pure AFLC substance is retained up to a HOAB content of about 75\%. [less ▲]

(-)-isopinocampheol substituted mesogens: An investigation of the effect of bulky terminal groups in chiral smectic liquid crystals

in Ferroelectrics (2004), 311

A ferroelectric liquid crystal with an end-substituted (-)-isopinocampheol (IPC) group has been studied in isolation and in mixtures with the antiferroelectric compound EHPOCBC. The samples were studied ... [more ▼]

A ferroelectric liquid crystal with an end-substituted (-)-isopinocampheol (IPC) group has been studied in isolation and in mixtures with the antiferroelectric compound EHPOCBC. The samples were studied with respect to electroclinic coefficients, tilt angles, X-ray layer spacing, dielectric permittivity, spontaneous polarisation and relative birefringence under an applied field. In the pure isopinocampheol substituted compound, the SmA-SmC phase transition appears strongly first order and is associated with a significant increase in effective birefringence. The smectic layer spacing decreases below the transition approximately with the optical tilt. On increased EHPOCBC concentration the change in birefringence across the transition diminishes, until the point at which the mixture adopts an anticlinic SmC(A) phase, and the expected decrease in birefringence is observed. There is very little change in birefringence with field for the IPC compound, whilst EHPOCBC shows a marked increase with increasing field, for a few degrees above the phase transition. The results are analyzed with respect to two models. In one it is proposed that the bulky IPC group disorders the SmA phase by introducing undulations in the smectic layer. These undulations may disappear in the SmC phase due to an antiparallel arrangement of neighbouring molecules. In the other model the bent shape of the mesogen as a whole plays a crucial role in changing the optical properties at the SmA-SmC transition, due to the biased rotation around the molecular axis of inertia. [less ▲]

Freezing of Nano-Scaled Fractal Molecules: Dendrimers

in Ferroelectrics (2001), 259(1-4), 27-36

Within this paper we present mono-disperse dendrimers as a new class of ideal canonical glass formers where the frustration mechanism originates from the self similar intramolecular order. Because of ... [more ▼]

Within this paper we present mono-disperse dendrimers as a new class of ideal canonical glass formers where the frustration mechanism originates from the self similar intramolecular order. Because of their fractal intramolecular structure these dendrimers are hardly able to build up a three dimensional translation symmetry necessary to form the crystalline state. Instead they show an unconventional dynamic and static freezing behavior at rather low temperatures. Based on temperature modulated differential scanning calorimetry (TMDSC) and Brillouin spectroscopy (BS) we give further evidences for the existence of an ideal primary glass transition with a thermal glass transition temperature which increases with the generation index of the fractal molecule. However, the primary glass transitions of higher generations do not completely erase the memory of the fractal intramolecular mobility but allow the survival of dynamic processes significant for the freezing of the constituting molecular unit. [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 ▲]

Antiferroelectric liquid crystals with 45° tilt - a new class of promising electro-optic materials

in Ferroelectrics (2000), 244

Antiferroelectric liquid crystals with a tilt angle of 45 degrees have very interesting optical properties, which seem to have been overlooked so far perhaps because such materials have hardly been ... [more ▼]

Antiferroelectric liquid crystals with a tilt angle of 45 degrees have very interesting optical properties, which seem to have been overlooked so far perhaps because such materials have hardly been available. We have prepared a four-component mixture of partially fluorinated compounds with a SmC/sub n/* phase in the interval between 27.4 degrees C and 121.6 degrees C, in which the tilt angle theta saturates at 45 degrees for T<or=80 degrees C, and we investigate the optical properties, theoretically and experimentally. One of the surprising features of 45 degree materials is that they permit a remarkably high contrast by virtue of an excellent dark-state, in spite of the fact that AFLC materials are notoriously difficult to align. This is because a 45 degrees AFLC turns out to be (negatively) uniaxial instead of biaxial. We describe these properties and propose a number of potentially interesting new applications, including a polarizer-free display mode and a three-level ``phase-only'' modulator. [less ▲]

Phases and phase transitions of KPF6

in Ferroelectrics (1997), 203(1), 211-219

Potassium hexafluorophosphate KPF6 has been investigated by X-ray powder diffraction, calorimetry and Brillouin spectroscopy. With decreasing temperature, the crystal shows a sequence of phases: NaCl-type ... [more ▼]

Potassium hexafluorophosphate KPF6 has been investigated by X-ray powder diffraction, calorimetry and Brillouin spectroscopy. With decreasing temperature, the crystal shows a sequence of phases: NaCl-type cubic-monoclinic-monoclinic with two-phase coexistence regions in between. In the cubic phase the elastic constants have been determined. c44 and c12 show a slight softening. [less ▲]