Extension of the π-conjugated unit in the ferroelectric π-conjugated liquid crystals bearing two lactate ester moieties and the bulk photovoltaic effect in the ferroelectric phase

Abstract

We synthesized the ferroelectric π-conjugated liquid crystals bearing two lactate ester moieties and expanding the π-conjugated unit. The synthetic route is shown in figure. 2. We synthesized the compound 2 from a chiral styrene derivative and chiral phenylterthiophene derivative by the Heck reaction. The liquid crystal phase was characterized by polarizing optical microscope and differential scanning calorimetry. From the optical textures and their response to a DC bias application, the liquid crystal phase was assigned to be a SmA* phase.