The Effects of Highly Chiral Dopants on the Smectic Phases of Liquid Crystals Remarkably Wide Intermediate Phases
Journal Article
·
· Journal of Materials Chemistry
A series of liquid crystalline mixtures that exhibit remarkably stable 4-layer intermediate phases, with phase ranges of around 30 {sup o}C, are reported. The mixtures are formed from a selenium-containing antiferroelectric material combined with up to 9% (by weight) of a highly chiral dopant. Various experimental methods including X-ray scattering and electro-optic techniques were employed in order to determine a set of physical parameters for each of the mixtures, such as smectic layer spacing, steric and optical tilt angles and spontaneous polarization. It is shown that the antiferroelectric phase is lost at dopant concentrations between 5 and 6%, when the stability of the 4-layer intermediate phase becomes significantly enhanced. This transition is associated with a decrease in the ratio of the spontaneous to flexoelectric coupling coefficients in the system. The combined observations suggest that molecular conformation is a more significant factor in stabilising the intermediate phases than chirality. The data are compared.
- Research Organization:
- Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) National Synchrotron Light Source
- Sponsoring Organization:
- Doe - Office Of Science
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-98CH10886
- OSTI ID:
- 930578
- Report Number(s):
- BNL--80787-2008-JA
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Materials Chemistry, Journal Name: Journal of Materials Chemistry Journal Issue: 38 Vol. 16; ISSN JMACEP; ISSN 0959-9428
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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