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 language | English (US) |
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Article number | 021710 |
Journal | Physical Review E - Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics |
Volume | 72 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 2005 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Statistical and Nonlinear Physics
- Statistics and Probability
- Condensed Matter Physics