Glass-forming low-molecular-mass ferroelectric liquid crystals

J. Boemelburg; Gerd Heppke; K. Wuthe

doi:10.1117/12.172112

4 April 1994 Glass-forming low-molecular-mass ferroelectric liquid crystals

J. Boemelburg, Gerd Heppke, K. Wuthe

Proceedings Volume 2175, Liquid Crystal Materials, Devices, and Applications III; (1994) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.172112
Event: IS&T/SPIE 1994 International Symposium on Electronic Imaging: Science and Technology, 1994, San Jose, CA, United States

Abstract

For the first time, glass forming low molar mass liquid crystals were synthesized exhibiting ferroelectric properties. This goal was achieved using derivatives of 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid with lateral aromatic branches. Several of the compounds prepared show a glass transition near room temperature occurring either in the SmA or in the SmC* phase. In the SmC* phase high values of the spontaneous polarization up to P_S approximately equals 200 nC/cm² are observed. With decreasing temperature the switching time increases by five orders of magnitude from 1 ms to 10 s. Correspondingly, Goldstone mode dielectric relaxation frequencies as low as 10^-1 Hz can be observed. In the SmA phase some of the compounds exhibit a very strong electroclinic response, i.e. tilt angles up to 10 degree(s) can be induced near the SmA/SmC* phase transition. The temperature dependence of the soft mode dielectric strength and the relaxation frequencies show strong deviations from simple critical behavior. It is demonstrated that the electrically controlled switching angle can be frozen in. The combination of this strong effect with the distinct second order optical susceptibility exhibited by the materials can be of interest for NLO-applications.

Citation Download Citation

J. Boemelburg, Gerd Heppke, and K. Wuthe "Glass-forming low-molecular-mass ferroelectric liquid crystals", Proc. SPIE 2175, Liquid Crystal Materials, Devices, and Applications III, (4 April 1994); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.172112

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available