315
Views
2
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Review Article

Cybotactic nematic liquid crystal – an overview

& ORCID Icon
Pages 503-535 | Received 01 Sep 2023, Accepted 29 Jan 2024, Published online: 19 Feb 2024
 

ABSTRACT

The recent identification of ferroelectricity within the nematic phase of liquid crystals has triggered significant interest. However, prior to this discovery; the potential existence of ferroelectricity in the nematic phase had already been investigated in the context of cybotactic nematic phases of liquid crystals. Ferroelectricity has previously been reported in chiral and achiral smectic phases. While the presence of nano-sized smectic clusters in the nematic phase of rod-shaped molecules, termed as cybotactic nematic, was recognised, it did not earn substantial attention. However, the cybotactic nematic phase in bent-core mesogens has gained significant attention due to its unconventional ferroelectric-like behaviour. To link the recent advancements in understanding ferroelectricity in the nematic phase, a comprehensive review has been conducted on the cybotactic nematic phase. This review encompasses a foundational explanation of the cybotactic model, followed by an overview of cybotactic phases in rod-shaped mesogens. The central focus lies in evaluating cybotactic phases within bent-core nematic systems, covering early debates, fundamental experimental evidences, and a compilation of mesogens that exhibit the cybotactic nematic phase. Furthermore, the review describes into the physical attributes of mesogens featuring cybotactic nematic phases, including discussions on repolarisation, dielectric properties, and optical characteristics.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Acknowledgments

One of the authors (AKN) expresses gratitude to the Government of West Bengal for the doctoral scholarship awarded through the Swami Vivekananda Scholarship programme.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.