Realization of ferroelectric columnar liquid crystal by introducing chirality

Abstract

Previously, columnar liquid crystalline compound urea C10-H was synthesized in our laboratory [1]. Though urea C10-H showed a ferroelectric switching behavior, its polarity did not maintain because of the electrostatic repulsion between the columns. Here, compounds 1 and 2 introducing chirality were synthesized to stabilize their polarities. Their phase transition behaviors and liquid crystal structures were investigated by polarized light optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction. 1 and 2 exhibited columnar phases, and showed polarity switching in response to an applied electric field. The polarity of 1 maintained partially after removal of the electric field. Hence, 1 showed ferroelectric behavior at its columnar liquid crystal.