Electro-optical switching studies on 1,3-phenylene based banana shaped liquid crystals

This work deals with the study of the thermotropic liquid crystalline properties of new asymmetric bent core liquid crystals. The thermotropic properties was analyzed by polarized optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetric analysis and variable temperature X-ray diffraction measurements. Effect of equal terminal chain with asymmetric bent core system on mesomorphic behavior was examined. The shorter methyl chain compound 10a of exhibits B1 mesophase and higher homologs (10b and 10c) shows antiferroelectric B2 mesophases, which was studied by electro-optical measurements.

► Bent core compounds possess asymmetric core but symmetric terminal chain lengths.
► The higher methylene chain containing compounds rendered B2 mesophase with high mesophase range.
► Shorter methylene chain compound 10a exhibited apolar columnar (B1) phase.
► Mesomorphic behavior and physical properties strongly depends on symmetry of the molecules.
► The compounds 10b and 10c exhibited an anticlinic antiferroelectric B2 phase and demonstrated high spontaneous polarization values 586 nC/cm2 and 670 nC/cm2 respectively.