Two‐Dimensional Skyrmion Lattice Formation in a Nematic Liquid Crystal Consisting of Highly Bent Banana Molecules. Issue 38 (11th August 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kang, Sungmin; Lee, Eun‐Woo; Li, Tianqi; Liang, Xiaobin; Tokita, Masatoshi; Nakajima, Ken; Watanabe, Junji
• Is Part Of: Angewandte Chemie international edition. Volume 55:Issue 38(2016)
• Page Start: 11552
• Page End: 11556
• Publication Date: 2016-08-11
• Subjects: bent-shaped molecule -- liquid crystals -- nematic phase -- phase transition -- tetragonal symmetry; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.201606388
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1433-7851

Abstract

Abstract: We synthesized a novel banana‐shaped molecule based on a 1, 7‐naphthalene central core that exhibits a distinct mesomorphism of the nematic‐to‐nematic phase transition. Both the X‐ray profile and direct imaging of atomic force microscopy (AFM) investigations clearly indicates the formation of an anomalous nematic phase possessing a two‐dimensional (2D) tetragonal lattice with a large edge (ca. 59 Å) directed perpendicular to the director in the low‐temperature nematic phase. One plausible model is proposed by an analogy of skyrmion lattice in which two types of cylinders formed from left‐ and right‐handed twist‐bend helices stack into a 2D tetragonal lattice, diminishing the inversion domain wall. Abstract : Banana ! A distinct mesomorphism of the nematic‐to‐nematic phase transition is observed with a novel banana‐shaped molecule based on a 1, 7‐naphthalene central core. One model for the anomalous nematic order is given by an analogy of a skyrmion lattice in which two types of cylinders form from left‐ and right‐handed twist‐bend helices.