Antiferroelectric phase induced by a semi‐fluoroalkane positioned at the chiral tail of a molecule

Abstract

A novel fluorinated chiral liquid crystal material derived from a newly designed optically active semi‐perfluorinated alkyl chain in the chiral group, (S)‐1‐(2,2,3,3,3‐pentafluoropropyloxy)‐2‐propanol, and a non‐fluorinated homologue derived from (S)‐1‐propyloxy‐2‐propanol, were prepared for comparison of their mesomorphic properties. The investigation of defect textures, switching behaviour and dielectric permmitivity showed that the introduction of a semi‐perfluorinated alkyl chain into the chiral tail of the molecule induces formation of an antiferroelectric phase.