Ferroelectric phases in non-symmetric achiral bent liquid crystals towards ambient temperatures: a novel series with oxadiazol as central moiety

Abstract

Extensive survey carried out in bent liquid crystals (BLCs) exhibiting ferroelectric (FE) phases suggested for the design of non-symmetric (NS) frame. Novel series of BLCs (C₈C_m) with distinct lateral moieties and heterocyclic central (oxadiazole) moiety, viz., octyl 4-(5-(4´-(alkyloxy) biphenyl-4-yl)-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)benzoates, are reported. NS BLC frame is realised by incorporating differing number of aromatic cores and varied length of end chains in the lateral moieties. Lateral moiety with biphenyl core is prepared by Suzuki coupling. Purity of the BLC product is confirmed by ¹H NMR and elemental analysis. LC phases exhibited by C₈C_m series of BLCs for m = 8, 10, 12, 15 and 16 are characterised by polarisation optical microscopy (POM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and spontaneous polarisation (P_S) techniques. C₈C_m series are found to exhibit SmA, CrystalB, B₂, B₅, SmG and SmE phase variance. SmG occurs as monotropic phase. Temperature variation of P_S(T) studied in FE B₂ and B₅ phases by field reversal method infers a moderate P_S value of ~80–100 nC · cm⁻². Order parameter growth in FE B₂ and B₅ phases is analysed through P_S(T). Normalised order parameter θ_N exhibits asymptotic behaviour with universal temperature T^U. Influence of aromatic cores and length of end chains (in lateral moieties) on the thermal stability of FE phases is discussed in the wake of the data on other BLCs.

Keywords:

• achiral bent liquid crystals
• non-symmetric frame
• spontaneous polarisation
• order parameter
• POM and DSC

Funding

The authors acknowledge the grant provided by the Department of Science and Technology, India [grant number DST/SR/S2/CMP-0063/2008].

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