Development of the simple analytical method for smectic layer structures: Application to liquid crystalline compounds with lateral nitro substituents.

Abstract

This paper describes the properties of liquid crystals with nitro substituents at the lateral position. The layer spacings of smectic A and C phases were examined by an X-ray diffraction and compared with the molecular lengths calculated by a semi-empirical molecular orbital method. The layer spacing in smectic A phase of nitro compounds shows a linear correlation with the carbon number of the hydrocarbon chain. We proposed a new analytical method for determination of layer structure in smectic phases. Based on these results, the molecular arrangements in smectic A and C phases will be discussed.