Optically isotropic liquid-crystal phase of bent-core molecules with polar nanostructure

G. Liao, S. Stojadinovic, G. Pelzl, W. Weissflog, S. Sprunt, A. Jákli

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

37 Scopus citations

Abstract

We found that the optically isotropic (IM) mesophase observed recently below the nematic phase of the bent-core liquid crystal 4-chlororesorcinol bis[4-(4-n-dodecyloxybenzoyloxy)benzoate] shows ferroelectric-type switching. Polarizing microscopic, electric current, dielectric, and dynamic light scattering studies lead us to propose that the IM phase is composed of interconnected orthoconic racemic smectic (Sm-CaPF) nanodomains with random layer orientations. Near the nematic phase, where the polarization can be saturated by electric fields, the system responds in a fashion analogous to the granular structure of a magnetic spin glass-in particular, we observed that the relaxation back to the nonpoled structure follows a similar, inverse logarithmic rule.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number021710
JournalPhysical Review E - Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics
Volume72
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2005

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Statistical and Nonlinear Physics
  • Statistics and Probability
  • Condensed Matter Physics

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