Emergent Heliconical Ferroelectric Nematic Phase in an "Straight" and "Rigid" Polar Rod Mesogen

Abstract

Ferroelectric nematic liquid crystals have garnered much attention from both fundamental and application perspectives due to their giant polarization characteristics. In this study, we designed and synthesized polar rod-like mesogens with permanent dipole moments nearly perfectly aligned with their molecular axes, resulting in the discovery of a ferroelectric heliconical nematic phase. Within this phase, the molecules possess a helical structure while being tilted relative to the helical axis, allowing for ultra-low voltage selective reflection color modulation (0.14 V/μm) Under the electric field along the helix axis.