Structural optimisation of lactic acid derivatives to obtain enhanced ferroelectric properties in smectic phases

ABSTRACT

Ferroelectricity is a desirable property of liquid crystalline materials. To enhance the ferroelectric properties, we optimised the molecular structure of the previously synthesised compounds DLm/n and prepared a series of (S)-lactate mesogens denoted ZL, which differ in a linkage of the non-chiral chain by an additional ether group. By this modification, we have succeeded in broadening the temperature range of a ferroelectric SmC* phase and spreading it down to room temperature, as well as in decreasing the melting points in comparison with the previously studied compounds. Also, the spontaneous electric polarisation of ZL compounds was found to be higher than that of parent mesogens.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Smectogens
• lactate derivatives
• anti-ferroelectricity
• ferroelectrics

Disclosure statement

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

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/02678292.2022.2131917.

Additional information

Funding

The authors acknowledge the financial support provided by the Czech Science Foundation [project No. 22-16499S] and Operational Programme Research, Development and Education financed by European Structural and Investment Funds [project SOLID21-CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/16_019/0000760].