Elastic properties of bent-core nematic liquid crystals: the role of the bend angle

ABSTRACT

The nematic phase formed from bent-core liquid crystals has been the focus of intensive research for more than a decade. With the potential of biaxial nematic phase and other interesting features, such as high Kerr constants, large flexoelectric coefficients and anomalous elastic constants, these bent-core materials have been in the limelight of research. This paper presents a mini-review of the interesting elastic behaviour reported in various bent-core compounds. The review further focusses on two different types of bent-core compounds as exemplars: one derived from an oxadiazole and other a thiadiazole, highlighting the importance of bend angle in bent-core compounds. The universality of the unique behaviour of bend elastic constants via molecular field theory and atomistic modelling has also been summarised.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Splay
• bend
• twist elastic constants

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council under Project No. EP/G023093/1. I am highly grateful to Professor H. F. Gleeson for giving me the opportunity and support to work in the field of bent-core compounds. I am thankful to Dr H. Liu, Dr C. Greco and Dr A. Ferrarini for carrying out experimental studies and calculations on these compounds. I am also thankful to Dr V. Görtz, Professor J. W. Goodby, Dr J. Seltmann and Professor M. Lehmann for providing the compounds.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council [project number EP/G023093/1].