Inverse Langmuir–Schaefer films of bent-core molecules

Abstract

Mesostructures in inversed Langmuir–Schaefer films of each of two contrasting bent-core molecules are explored via atomic force microscopy. One of the molecules forms Langmuir films that are optically isotropic and the other those that are optically anisotropic. Both show suboptical mesostructures in the 100 nm range, in spite of appearing optically uniform. The anisotropic films are effective in aligning nematic bent-core samples, but not rod-like liquid crystals such as 5CB.

Keywords:

• bent-core molecules
• thin films
• Langmuir–Schaefer films
• alignment layers

Acknowledgements

We thank Katalin Fodor-Csorba for providing ClBbis 10BB for us. We would also like to thank a very helpful referee for significant suggestions. The work was sponsored by NSF-DMR 0907055.