Induced smectic A₁, A₂ and à phases at low temperatures. Molecule parameters related to phase diagrams and structure

Abstract

Binary mixtures combining some rod-like mesogens with non-mesogenic plate-like molecules show surprising induction of smectic A phases close to room temperature. We have systematically varied the nature of both components in order to correlate the phenomenon to the molecular structure. The calorimetric and X-ray analysis of several systems specify the topologies of the phase diagrams and definitely confirm the unusual character of these phases.