Abstract
The optic, electrooptic and dielectric spectroscopy characterisation of novel four-ring thiophene-based chiral esters comprising suitably 5, 5′-disubstituted 2, 2′-bithiophene (antiferro- electrics) is reported. The two compounds exhibit interesting hysterises in their phase sequences, and we show that even whole phases (e.g. their relatively wide ferri-phases) may be suppressed by the surface interactions in thin cells.