Antiferroelectric phase in liquid crystalline compounds containing an azo group in their molecular core
Novel lactic acid derivatives containing an azo group in their molecular core have been synthesised and their mesomorphic properties established. Compounds with a short aliphatic non-chiral chain exhibited the SmA* phase and ferroelectric (FE) SmC* phase. The monotropic antiferroelectric (AF) phase was found in the homologues with a longer terminal chain. Spontaneous polarisation and tilt angle were measured for the FE and AF phases. Dielectric spectroscopy in the frequency range 1 Hz-10 MHz was carried out and dielectric properties established within the temperature range of the smectic phases. Two high frequency modes were detected in the AF phase. Small-angle X-ray measurements were conducted, and the temperature dependence of layer spacing values is established and discussed.
Keywords: antiferroelectric liquid crystals; azo linkage; dielectric properties; ferroelectricity; lactate group; photosensitivity
Document Type: Research Article
Affiliations: 1: Institute of Physics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic 2: Institute of Physical Chemistry, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
Publication date: 01 March 2011
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