New antiferroelectric liquid crystalline materials containing a keto group and two lactate groups

New chiral liquid crystalline materials containing a keto group and two lactate units attached to the mesogenic core have been synthesized and studied. All the new compounds show the paraelectric SmA, ferroelectric SmC* and antiferroelectric SmC*_A phases each over rather broad temperature ranges. The properties of the phases were characterized by DSC, electro-optical and dielectric studies. The spontaneous polarization, tilt angle, helical pitch, and switching times were determined for the polar phases.     

Enhancement of dielectric and electro-optical parameters of a newly prepared ferroelectric liquid crystal mixture by dispersing nano-sized copper oxide

ABSTRACT

Here, we present the effect of copper (II) oxide nanoparticles (nCuO) on dielectric and electro-optical parameters of a newly prepared ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) mixture, namely W302. The FLC mixture, comprising of pyrimidine compounds, was characterised through dielectric spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarising optical microscopy (POM) and other electro-optical methods. The material parameters such as spontaneous polarisation, rotational viscosity, response time and tilt angle of W302 were found to be 14 nC/cm², 240 mPa.s, 150 µs and 28^?, respectively. The phase transition temperatures of W302 were observed through DSC and further confirmed by the dependence of dielectric loss factor in homogeneously aligned FLC sample with temperature. We also demonstrate the observance of a low-frequency dielectric relaxation mode due to the unwinding of the helix, called as partially unwound helical mode (p-UHM) along with Goldstone mode. The behaviour of p-UHM has been systematically studied with temperature and applied bias field. Further, dispersion of nCuO into host W302 has shown a significant increase in dielectric permittivity. Also, the p-UHM relaxation peak in the dielectric regime has disappeared with the incorporation of nCuO. These studies would be useful to fabricate better electro-optical devices for display, switching and beam steering applications. The formulation and characterization of a ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) mixture W302 composed of pyrimidine compounds is presented. Then, we observed the effect of copper (II) oxide nanoparticles (nCuO) on dielectric and electro-optical parameters of a newly prepared and characterized FLC mixture.     

Molecular and collective modes in ferroelectric liquid crystals studied by dielectric spectroscopy

The complex dielectric permittivity has been measured for a ferroelectric liquid crystal in the range 102-109Hz. Six different relaxations have been obtained and characterized: soft mode (SmA* and SmC* phases), Goldstone mode (SmC* phase), rotation around molecular long axis, rotation around molecular short axis, ferroelectric domain mode (SmC* phase) and an internal motion associated with a polar group. Strengths and frequencies of these modes have been obtained for the different phases for different bias fields. Using these results together with spontaneous polarization and molecular tilt measurements we have also obtained the rotational viscosities associated with the soft mode and the Goldstone mode. We explain the results in the light of the so-called Landau extended model, concluding that the biquadratic coupling between polarization and tilt is quite important with regard to the bilinear coupling. This fact has been used to explain the noticeable increase of the activation energy of the frequency of the mode related to the rotation around the molecular long axis at the SmA*-SmC* phase transition.     

X-ray diffraction and dielectric spectroscopy studies on a partially fluorinated ferroelectric liquid crystal from the family of terphenyl esters

The fluorinated compound, (S)-4′′-(6-perfluoropentanoyoxyhexyl-1-oxy)-2′,3′-difluoro-4-(1-methylheptyloxycarbonyl)-[1,1′:4′,1′′]-terphenyl, which exhibits antiferroelectric SmC_A*, ferroelectric SmC* and paraelectric SmA* phases, has been investigated by polarising optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction and frequency-dependent dielectric spectroscopy methods. X-ray studies have revealed that the layer thickness remains almost constant in the SmA* phase but within the SmC* and SmC_A* phases it decreases with decreasing temperature, a step jump being observed only at the SmA*–SmC* transition. The tilt angle in the SmC_A* phase decreases from 22.2° to 19.5°, and in the SmC* phase it decreases from 18.8° to 5.5°. Spontaneous polarisation is found to be quite high and varies between 74.1 and 118.7 nC cm^?2. The variation in ε′ and ε′′ with temperature shows a discontinuous change at the transition temperatures. Goldstone mode relaxation is only observed in the ferroelectric and antiferroelectric phases and is found to be of the Cole–Cole type. The soft mode is observed on application of a bias field near the SmC*–SmA* transition. Neither the soft mode nor the anti-phase azimuthal angle fluctuation mode is observed in SmC_A*. Rotational viscosity decreases quite rapidly with temperature but in a different manner in the ferroelectric and antiferroelectric phases. Activation energy for this process is found to be 48.14 kJ mol^?1 in the SmC* phase.     

A field-reversal method for measuring the parameters of a ferroelectric liquid crystal

A method for measuring the spontaneous polarization P _s, the switching time, the rotational viscosity γ_φ, and the d.c. conductivity σ is presented. The possibilities of estimating the azimuthal angle φ₀, the dielectric anisotropy δε and the dielectric permittivity ε_⊥ in the same experiment are also discussed. It is explicitly shown that the switching delay, though primarily dependent on the material and the applied field, is also dependent on the geometry of the cell.     

Switching and electrical properties of ferro‐ and antiferroelectric phases of MOPB(H)PBC

Switching and dielectric relaxation phenomena were investigated for an antiferroelectric liquid crystal, 4,4‐(1‐methyloctyloxycarbonyl)phenyl]‐4′‐[3‐(butanoyloxy)prop‐1‐oxy]biphenyl carboxylate, exhibiting chiral smectic A (SmA*), smectic C (SmC*) and antiferroelectric (SmC_A*) phases. Spontaneous polarisations, rotational viscosities, relaxation frequencies, dielectric strengths and distribution parameters were determined as a function of temperature. The electric field required for saturation of the spontaneous polarisation increased with a decrease in temperature. In the SmA* phase, only one relaxation mechanism was observed that behaves as soft mode. Two relaxation processes were detected in the SmC* phase. A high‐frequency relaxation process invariant at 2.2 kHz was due to a Goldstone mode, but the origin of low‐frequency relaxation process (1–20 Hz) is unclear; however, it may belong to an X‐mode. The dielectric spectrum of the SmC_A* phase exhibits two absorption peaks separated by two decades of frequency. The low‐frequency peak is related to the antiferroelectric Goldstone mode, whereas the high‐frequency peak originates from the anti‐phase fluctuation of the directors in the anti‐tilt pairs of the SmC_A* phase.     

Dielectric and electro-optic properties of two biphenylyl benzoate-based ferroelectric mesogens with tilted hexagonal phases

ABSTRACT

Two partially fluorinated ferroelectric liquid crystals (2F3R, 3F3R) with biphenylyl benzoate core have been investigated by frequency domain dielectric spectroscopy and electro-optic method. Both the compounds exhibit SmC* phase over a wide range of temperature along with tilted hexatic phase SmF* and soft crystal phases SmJ* (in 2F3R) and SmG* (in 3F3R) and one coexistence phase of (SmF*+SmC*). Both BOO phason and tilt phason relaxations are observed in SmF* phase and cooperative relaxation behaviour is also observed in crystal-like smectic phases. Goldstone mode relaxation is observed in SmC* phase and Maxwell Wagner mode is observed in all the phases. In 2F3R soft mode is detected in both SmC* and SmA* phases but not in 3F3R which melts directly to isotropic phase from SmC* phase. Compounds possess moderate values of spontaneous polarisation and exhibit quite sharp electrical response especially in 2F3R. Rotational viscosities, pitch and elastic constant are also measured. Effect of chain length and fluorination on various physical parameters has been discussed.     

Dielectric,viscosity, and pitch measurements of a ferroelectric liquid crystal exhibiting the phase sequence smectic M–smectic C

Abstract

A chiral liquid crystal compound exhibiting the ferroelectric smectic C phase and the recently discovered ferroelectric smectic M phase has been studied by measurements of the Goldstone-mode relaxation frequency and dielectric strength, the spontaneous polarization, the tilt angle and the helical pitch. The data allow the determination of the Goldstone-mode rotational viscosity and the pitch controlling elastic constant. The results indicate that the smectic M phase is characterized by a larger molecular order within the smectic layers compared to the smectic C phase confirming the assumption of a tilted hexatic structure for the smectic M phase.     

New antiferroelectric liquid crystalline materials containing a keto group and two lactate groups

New chiral liquid crystalline materials containing a keto group and two lactate units attached to the mesogenic core have been synthesized and studied. All the new compounds show the paraelectric SmA, ferroelectric SmC* and antiferroelectric SmC*_A phases each over rather broad temperature ranges. The properties of the phases were characterized by DSC, electro-optical and dielectric studies. The spontaneous polarization, tilt angle, helical pitch, and switching times were determined for the polar phases.     

Cd1-xZnxS/ZnS core/shell quantum dot ferroelectric liquid crystal composite system: analysis of faster optical response and lower operating voltage

Cd_1?xZn_xS/ZnS core/shell-structured quantum dot (QD)-doped ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) Felix 17/000 has been investigated in the present study. In the SmC* phase, the effect of QD on the dielectric and electro-optical properties of FLC has been studied as a function of dopant concentration. A substantial change in the different parameters like tilt angle, spontaneous polarisation, response time and relative permittivity has been observed for the composite system. Nearly two times faster response of the composite system with lower operating voltage is one of the promising results of the present study. The faster optical response along with the decreased value of spontaneous polarisation can be utilised in low power consumption liquid crystal displays.     

SmA-SmC-B2 polymorphism in an achiral cyano substituted banana-shaped mesogen

A new achiral five-ring banana-shaped mesogen is presented which has a cyano substituent in the 4-position of the central core. Microscopical, X-ray, dielectric and electro-optical investigations give evidence for the unusual phase sequence B₂, SmC, SmA. The B₂ phase shows an antiferroelectric switching behaviour; the spontaneous polarization was found to be 330 nCcm^-2.     

Spontaneous polarization,tilt angle and dielectric measurements on a ferroelectric liquid crystal

A new ferroelectric liquid crystalline compound 4-(p-butyloxy-2-chloro-tyrosinate)-2-hydroxy-benzylidene-4'-nonylaniline, abbreviated as BCTHBN, was characterized by various techniques. Phase sequence and transition temperature data were obtained by thermal microscopy and DSC. The values of spontaneous polarization, tilt angle, response times and viscosity, along with the wide thermal range of the SmC* phase, make this compound a candidate for applicational studies. Dielectric studies included variation of capacitance with temperature and calculation of activation energies in the soft and Goldstone modes.     

The characteristic dielectric behaviour in ferroelectric liquid crystals at a phase transition and the contribution of the soft mode

The characteristic dielectric behaviour of ferroelectric liquid crystals with a large spontaneous polarization has been studied as functions of the D.C. bias field, frequency, cell thickness and applied pressure. Under the condition in which the contribution of the Goldstone mode is suppressed, a sharp peak in the temperature dependence of the dielectric constant is clearly observed at the transition between S_A and S*_C phases T _{S C *s A}. The relaxation of the soft mode is observed both in the S_A and S*_C phases by eliminating the contribution of the Goldstone mode under a D.C. bias field. Another relaxation is also observed in the S*_C phase around several kHz in addition to that of the soft mode and the Goldstone mode. The pressure effect on the soft mode was also studied.     

Dielectric, viscosity, and pitch measurements of a ferroelectric liquid crystal exhibiting the phase sequence smectic M-smectic C

A chiral liquid crystal compound exhibiting the ferroelectric smectic C phase and the recently discovered ferroelectric smectic M phase has been studied by measurements of the Goldstone-mode relaxation frequency and dielectric strength, the spontaneous polarization, the tilt angle and the helical pitch. The data allow the determination of the Goldstone-mode rotational viscosity and the pitch controlling elastic constant. The results indicate that the smectic M phase is characterized by a larger molecular order within the smectic layers compared to the smectic C phase confirming the assumption of a tilted hexatic structure for the smectic M phase.     

Synthesis and ferroelectric properties of chiral liquid crystals derived from (S)-1-propyloxy-2-propanol

A new optically active chiral moiety, (S)-1-propyloxy-2-propanol, was designed and synthesized by the treatment of 1-propanol with (S)-propylene oxide under basic conditions. Its derivatives, the (R)-1-propyloxy-2-propyl 4-[4-(4-alkoxyphenyl)phenoyloxy]benzoates, PPmPPB (m = 8-12), were prepared for the investigation of mesomorphic properties. All of the chiral materials displayed enantiotropic SmA* and SmC* phases, and the shorter alkyl chain members (m = 8-11) displayed an additional unidentified SmX* phase. The switching current, spontaneous polarization, tilt angle, dielectric constant and electro-optical response for the materials in the ferroelectric SmC* phase were measured. The electro-optic responses in polyimide film-coated homogeneously aligned cells exhibit thresholdless, V-shaped switching in the ferroelectric phase.     

Polarization and dielectric properties of an antiferroelectric liquid crystal

The spontaneous polarization and dielectric properties of a new antiferroelectric liquid crystal (AFLC) exhibiting several intermediate phases between the SmCA and SmC* phases are investigated. A low frequency ferri Goldstone mode and a higher frequency ferro Goldstone mode have been observed over a certain range of temperatures. The effect of d.c. bias voltage on these modes is examined. The results confirm the existence of an FiLC phase with q 1/2 between SmCgamma and SmC*. These also show the co-existence of the FiLC phase with SmC* over a narrow range of temperatures above the FiLC phase. The phase sequence for this material is found to contain SmCA, SmCgamma, FiLC, (FiLC coexisting with SmC*), SmC*, SmA phases on heating and SmA- SmC* SmCgamma- SmCA- phases on cooling.     

The Goldstone mode in mixtures containing ferroelectric liquid crystals

Abstract

Measurements of complex electric permittivity of room temperature ferroelectric liquid crystal mixtures have been made on aligned samples with the electric measuring field being parallel to the layer planes. The spontaneous polarization, the tilt angles and pitch have been measured in these mixtures. By theoretical fitting of the experimental points of electric permittivity for the Cole–Cole modification of the Debye equation dielectric parameters, the dielectric strength, relaxation frequency, and distribution parameter for the Goldstone mode have been computed. The dielectrically observed Goldstone mode in our mixtures is shown to have both DC bias field and AC field dependences.     

Dielectric characterisation of a ferroelectric liquid crystalline material having SmA*–SmC*–SmBh* phase sequence

Thermodynamical, optical and dielectric characterisation of a material possessing ferroelectric SmC* and hexatic SmB* phases has been carried out. Phase identification has been done by miscibility studies. From the dielectric studies, a relaxation mechanism is observed in the low MHz region of the SmA* phase, which is related to the tilt fluctuation (soft mode) of the directors. In the SmC* phase, another collective relaxation mechanism has been observed in the kHz region, which is related to the phase fluctuation (Goldstone mode) of the directors. In the SmB_h* phase, 2-weak relaxation modes are observed in the kHz and MHz frequency range, respectively, due to individual molecular rotations.     

Synthesis and ferroelectric properties of chiral swallow-tailed liquid crystals derived from (S)-2-[1-(2-ethylbutoxy)]propanol

(S)-2-[1-(2-Ethylbutoxy)]propanol was designed and synthesized as a chiral building block for the preparation of chiral liquid crystals. Its derivatives, the (S)-2-[1-(2-ethylbutoxy)]propyl 4-[4-(4-alkoxyphenyl)phenoyloxy]benzoates, EPmPPB (m = 8-12), were prepared and their mesomorphic phases investigated. The results showed that the chiral materials displayed enantiotropic SmA* and SmC* phases, while those with shorter alkyl chains (m = 8-10) displayed an additional unidentified SmX* phase. The switching current, spontaneous polarization, tilt angle, dielectric constant and electro-optical response for the materials in the ferroelectric SmC* phase were measured. The electro-optic responses of the materials in polyimide film-coated, homogeneously aligned cell exhibit thresholdless, V-shaped switching in the ferroelectric phase.     

New series of chiral ferroelectric liquid crystals with the keto group attached to the molecule core

Two new series of ferroelectric liquid crystals with a keto group attached to the molecular core and a lactate unit as a chiral centre were synthesized and studied. All the compounds exhibit the paraelectric SmA phase and the ferroelectric SmC* phase over very wide temperature ranges and down to room temperature. The main characteristics of the chiral ferroelectric SmC* phase, namely spontaneous polarization, spontaneous tilt angle, and dielectric constant, have been measured to establish their relationship to the length of the terminal chains. The influence of the chiral and non-chiral chain lengths on the helix pitch length is also discussed.