Study of mesogenic properties and molecular conformation from a heterogeneous tetramer with a triphenylene centre core and three cyanobiphenyl tails

A novel liquid crystalline material which consists of both discotic and calamitic units to form a star structure bearing a triphenylene as centre core and three cyanobiphenyl tails has been synthesized. Phase behaviour of the material was investigated using polarised optical microscopy, thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction. The heterogeneous tetramer showed multi-mesophases that can be kinetically controlled. When the pure tetramer was heated up and cooled down at 10 °C min− 1 directly, it showed only a crystalline phase and no mesophase. The annealing sample showed smectic mesophase and the quenched sample showed nematic phase, columnar phase can be induced by TNF in the binary system containing the tetramer and TNF.