Dimerlike smectic-{ital A} and -{ital C} phases in highly fluorinated thermotropic liquid crystals

Journal Article · Fri Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1995 · Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.52.2688· OSTI ID:124188

Rieker, T P; Janulis, E P ^[1]

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1. Sandia National Laboratories, P.O. Box 5800, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185-1349 (United States)

X-ray scattering studies on a homologous series of thermotropic liquid crystals with one tail perfluorinated reveal that the smectic layer thickness depends only on the length of the fluorocarbon tail. Density measurements in combination with the x-ray results show that the average cross-sectional area per molecule, parallel to the smectic layers, depends only on the length of the hydrocarbon tail. These experimental results lead to a model in which steric interactions drive antiparallel alignment of nearest neighbors in the smectic-{ital A} and -{ital C} phases. These unique dimerlike phases have a layer spacing comparable to the length of the molecules, demonstrate registration of nearest neighbors along their lengths, and exhibit ferroelectric switching in the chiral smectic-{ital C} phase.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48; AC04-94AL85000
• OSTI ID: 124188
• Journal Information: Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics, Journal Name: Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 52; ISSN PLEEE8; ISSN 1063-651X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
DIMERS
FLUORINATION
HYDROCARBONS
LIQUID CRYSTALS
MOLECULAR MODELS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
X-RAY SPECTROSCOPY