Polarization sign inversion and smectic-A-smectic-C surface transitions in freely suspended films of fluorinated and nonfluorinated compounds

D. Schlauf Institute for Physical Chemistry, University Marburg, D-35032, Marburg, Germany

CH. Bahr Institute for Physical Chemistry, University Marburg, D-35032, Marburg, Germany

C. C. Huang School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA

J. W. Goodby School of Chemistry, The University, Hull, HU6 7RX, England

Abstract

We report ellipsometric measurements on freely suspended films of chiral liquid-crystal compounds near their smectic-A-smectic-C transition. The temperature difference between the surface and the bulk transition is found to vary considerably within a homologous series. In two compounds possessing a fluorinated alkyl chain an unexpected sign inversion of the spontaneous polarization in the ferroelectric smectic-C phase is observed which occurs only in thin but not in thick films.

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Polarization sign inversion and smectic-A-smectic-C surface transitions in freely suspended films of fluorinated and nonfluorinated compounds

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Polarization sign inversion and smectic-A-smectic-C surface transitions in freely suspended films of fluorinated and nonfluorinated compounds

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