Title
Fast switching near a smectic-to-nematic phase transition
Abbreviated Journal Title
Liq. Cryst.
Keywords
high birefringence; isothiocyanato phenyl-tolanes; smectic-nematic phase; transition; TOLANE LIQUID-CRYSTALS; OPTICAL-PROPERTIES; MIXTURES; BICOMPONENT; Chemistry, Multidisciplinary; Crystallography; Materials Science, ; Multidisciplinary
Abstract
We have designed, synthesised and evaluated the physical properties of high-birefringence (Delta n) isothiocyanato phenyl-tolane and terphenyl liquid crystals. These compounds exhibit a Delta n similar to 0.36-0.52 at room temperature and wavelength lambda=633nm. A different mesomorphic sequence was observed depending on the terminal alkyl chain length. Compounds with a longer chain show smectic and nematic phases, whereas short-chain homologues only exhibit a nematic phase. In the vicinity of the nematic-to-smectic transition, the viscoelastic coefficient decreases, instead of increases, as the temperature decreases. The observed change is as large as 75% for the 4'-(3,5-difluoro-4-isothiocyanatophenylethynyl)-4-pentylbiphenyl compound studied. This behaviour is useful for improving the response time of a liquid crystal device, if the operating temperature can be controlled accurately.
Journal Title
Liquid Crystals
Volume
35
Issue/Number
6
Publication Date
1-1-2008
Document Type
Article
Language
English
First Page
711
Last Page
717
WOS Identifier
ISSN
0267-8292
Recommended Citation
"Fast switching near a smectic-to-nematic phase transition" (2008). Faculty Bibliography 2000s. 356.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/facultybib2000/356
Comments
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