Title

Fast Switching Near A Smectic-To-Nematic Phase Transition

Keywords

High birefringence; Isothiocyanato phenyl-tolanes; Smectic-nematic phase transition

Abstract

We have designed, synthesised and evaluated the physical properties of high-birefringence (Δn) isothiocyanato phenyl-tolane and terphenyl liquid crystals. These compounds exhibit a Δn∼0.36-0.52 at room temperature and wavelength λ=633 nm. 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. © 2008 Taylor & Francis.

Publication Date

6-1-2008

Publication Title

Liquid Crystals

Volume

35

Issue

6

Number of Pages

711-717

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1080/02678290802120299

Socpus ID

46749147156 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/46749147156

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