Structural and dielectric investigations of a binary system of a bi-swallow-tailed and a terminally-polar compound

Abstract

Induced smectic A phases in binary mixtures of a bi-swallow-tailed component and a second component are described as ‘filled smectic A phases’, since the second rod-like component is considered to occupy spaces between the terminal branches of the bi-swallow-tailed molecules. A new system of this kind is now described where the second rod-like component has a terminal dipole, thereby enabling dielectric studies of the mixtures. These measurements coupled with calorimetric and X-ray measurements give information about the packing and dynamics of the mixed phases.