Electric field-induced phase transitions in a smectic chiral liquid crystal

Abstract

The (E–T) phase diagram of the chiral smectic liquid crystal C7F2 has been established by varying the two thermodynamic parameters: temperature (T) and electric field (E). In its bulk state without field, the studied compound exhibits only the SmA, and the phases. These ground phases are transformed into the ferroelectric SmC∗ phase under high field with an intermediate ferrielectric phase appearing at lower field in the temperature range around the to phase transition.

Keywords:

• phase transitions
• chirality
• tilted smectic liquid crystal
• phase diagram

Acknowledgements

We wish to acknowledge the support of CMCU and CNRS/DGRSRT contracts # 06/G1311. We also thank Huu Tinh Nguyen for synthesising the sample.