Controlling the temperature range of enantiotropic ferroelectric nematic phases based on mixing-induced melting point depression

Abstract

We have reported that CnDIO (n=1,2,3,4), a liquid crystal compound having a 1,3-dioxane skeleton, exhibits a ferroelectric nematic phase (NF phase) with a huge relative permittivity of over 10,000. However, the temperature range in which CnDIOs exhibit the NF phase is higher than room temperature, and it is desirable to expand the temperature range of the NF phase to lower temperatures. In this study, we systematically mixed various CnDIOs to lower the freezing point based on mixing-induced melting point depression, and succeeded in extending the temperature range of the NF phase to the lower temperature side.