Abstract
New asymmetric bent-shaped molecules were synthesised and their mesomorphic properties and phase structures investigated by means of electro-optical measurements. All of the compounds formed fluid smectic phases and showed the homochiral antiferroelectric (SmCAPA) ground structure of the B2 phase. Comparing the new molecules with the previously reported classical symmetric bent-shaped molecules, we concluded that the modification of the chemical structure, especially the asymmetrical design of the bent-shaped molecules, is very significant for the interlayer interaction, influencing the formation of a specific polar order in banana phases.
Acknowledgements
This research was supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Creative Scientific Research and a Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists B (21750138) from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in Japan.