Steric stabilisation of the ferrielectric intermediate liquid crystal phase by dopant-induced conformational change

Abstract

The ferrielectric intermediate liquid crystal phases are typically narrow in temperature range, but significant stabilisation of these phases can be achieved by doping. We report an achiral dopant that may induce a significant conformational change in the host molecule, characterised by tilt ratio inversion across the ferrielectric phase range. Preferred molecular structures are predicted for dopants that could lead to stabilisation of the ferrielectric phases for potential device applications.

Keywords:

• ferrielectric
• intermediate phase
• polarised optical microscopy
• X-ray diffraction
• tilt angle

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation (DMR–0852791), MARTECH, and a planning grant from the Council for Research Creativity at Florida State University. Use of the National Synchrotron Light Source, Brookhaven National Laboratory, was supported by the DOE, Office of Science (BES), DE–AC02–98CH10886. We would also like to thank the Hird group at Hull University for their generous donation of materials.