Observation of very large chiral domains in a liquid crystal phase formed by mixtures of achiral bent-core and rod molecules

Abstract

Experimental observations on the B₄ phase of liquid crystal mixtures formed from bent-core (P-8-O-PIMB) and rod (5CB) achiral molecules reveal the stabilization of the B₄ phase with an unusually large size of chiral domains. The phenomenon is interpreted as an intrinsic property of the B₄ phase when arising below the isotropic liquid (Iso); actually direct transition between Iso and B₄ phases occurs except for only very limited regions of pure P-8-O-PIMB and 5CB molecules. The phase diagram of the mixture shows the existence of a new phase, closely related to the B₄ phase.