1B20 Electric Field Induced Layer Rearrangement in the Smectic A Phase of Dimeric Liquid Crystals

Abstract

Field-induced smectic layer realignment has been investigated in the smectic A phase of dimeric liquid crystals possessing cyanobiphenyl and phenylpyrimidine groups. Dimerization of mesogens likely lowered the stability of the smectic layer structures and the layer of dimeric liquid crystal realigned upon applying low electric field in both planar and homeotropic cell geometries. The position of the pyrimidine ring in the molecular structure affected the stability of the layer structure.