Characterization of a new chiral antiferroelectric liquid crystal with a lateral bromo substituent

Abstract

In this paper we present the characterization of a new chiral mesogen with a lateral bromo substituent. The identification of the various smectic phases is achieved by texture observation, miscibility studies and DSC. The optic and electro-optic properties are also investigated. The real part of the complex dielectric permittivity as a function of the temperature was also measured in the planar geometry for thin samples. The dielectric behaviour will be qualitatively discussed on the simple assumption of different anchorings. These results point out the importance of anchoring conditions in relation to the macroscopic properties observed in very thin cells of antiferroelectric liquid crystals.