Effects of molecular structure of T-shaped chiral liquid-crystalline oligomers on appearance of a blue phase

Abstract

We have prepared a homologous series of T-shaped chiral oligomers and investigated effects of the molecular structure on appearance of a blue phase. All T-shaped compounds were found to show the blue phase with a relatively wide temperature range. The lateral substituent, central spacer length and terminal chain length slightly affected the stability of the blue phase. On the other hand, bent-shaped chiral compound did not show the blue phase.