Intrinsically Chiral Twist‐Bend Nematogens: Interplay of Molecular and Structural Chirality in the NTB Phase. Issue 6 (15th December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Walker, Rebecca; Pociecha, Damian; Salamonczyk, Miroslaw; Storey, John M. D.; Gorecka, Ewa; Imrie, Corrie T.
• Is Part Of: Chemphyschem. Volume 24:Issue 6(2023)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-12-15
• Subjects: chirality -- liquid crystals -- twist-bend nematic phase -- resonant soft X-ray scattering; Chemistry, Physical and theoretical -- Periodicals; 541.05
• DOI: 10.1002/cphc.202200807
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1439-4235

Abstract

Abstract: Non‐symmetric lactate‐based chiral liquid crystal dimers containing an odd‐membered spacer are shown to exhibit a chiral twist‐bend nematic phase which is stable on cooling to room temperature. A comparison of racemic and optically pure materials reveals that the pitch length in the N*TB phase is not influenced by molecular chirality, whereas the nematic‐twist‐bend nematic transition temperature is increased. Abstract : Relationships between intrinsic and structural chirality in dimeric liquid crystals are explored using new lactate‐based chiral compounds exhibiting the rarely‐observed chiral N*TB phase. Comparisons of enantiomeric and racemic nonsymmetric dimer pairs show that optically pure materials have higher values of TN * TB ${{_{{\ast}{_{{\rm TB}}}}}}$ N* than their racemic analogues, in perfect accordance with the theory that chiral doping increases the stability of the NTB phase relative to the N phase.