The synthesis, mesomorphic behaviour and physical properties of a chiral liquid crystal exhibiting an antiferroelectric smectici phase

Abstract

A new, highly chiral liquid crystalline material exhibiting two antiferroelectric phases is reported. The material is a phenyl biphenyl carboxylate, and both the synthesis and the physical properties are described in detail. Measurements of the electro-optic switching, spontaneous polarisation, tilt angle and viscosity are presented across the entire mesophase ranges. The optical switching characteristics of the material, together with the current pulse, clearly show that the phase below the antiferroelectric chiral smectic C phase is also antiferroelectric. Physical property measurements indicate that the phase is one of the higher order smectic phases, which is identified as smectic I* by miscibility studies. It is concluded that the phase is the antiferroelectric hexatic chiral smectic I phase.