Realization of polarization-maintainable axially polar ferroelectric columnar liquid crystals

Abstract

In Axially polarized ferroelectric columnar liquid crystals (AP-FCLCs), the axial polarity of the columns can be switched by applying an external electric field, and is maintained after removal of the field. Although many examples of AP-FCLCs are known, very few studies have confirmed the polarization maintenance (PM) after removal of the field. We have been trying to realize PM-AP-FCLC phases using urea-based molecules since 2004, and we report our approaches and recent successes.