Electroclinic and electromechanical effects of a side-chain chiral smectic A elastomer

Abstract

Optical and mechanical responses to electric stimulation in a side-chain smectic A elastomer composed of a chiral mesogen have been investigated. The molecular tilt caused by the electroclinic effect in an electric field was measured optically in the chiral smectic A phase. In addition, the electric field also induced shear deformation in the elastomer, and the tilt angle of the sheared elastomer, defined as the angle made by the edge of the elastomer film and the direction of the layer normal, was smaller than the molecular tilt angle estimated by optical measurement.

Keywords:

• chirality
• elastomers
• electroclinic effect
• electromechanics
• liquid-crystalline polymers
• piezoelectricity
• smectics

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a Grant-in-aid for Scientific Research (C) (No. 20550167) from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). We are grateful to Professors Hiroshi Orihara and Yang Ho Na for their helpful comments throughout the study.