First azulene liquid crystal with de Vries behavior and a SmA re-entrant phase. Issue 5 (6th February 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Schulz, Finn; Wank, Bianca; Nacke, Pierre; Frey, Wolfgang; Laschat, Sabine
• Is Part Of: Materials advances. Volume 4:Issue 5(2023)
• Page Start: 1306
• Page End: 1313
• Publication Date: 2023-02-06
• Subjects: 620.11
• DOI: 10.1039/d2ma01055k
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2633-5409

Abstract

Abstract : Novel calamitic mesogens with an azulene core show de Vries-like properties and a SmA re-entrance phase. Abstract : De Vries-like materials show small layer shrinkages at the SmA to SmC transition and can therefore be applied in surface-stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystal displays. Here we report the synthesis and characterization of a new class of de Vries mesogens with a simple 2-phenylazulene-1-carbonitrile-based core. These materials exhibit an exceptionally small lower threshold for the maximum layer shrinkage of only 0.16%. One of the investigated compounds shows an orthogonal SmA re-entrance phase below the tilted SmC phase. This behavior has not been observed for achiral calamitic molecules before. The rationalization of the anomalous phase behavior might lead to a new design principle for liquid crystalline compounds showing re-entrant phases and de Vries behavior.