Frustrated phases induced in binary mixtures of hockey-stick and chiral rod-like mesogens

Abstract

Two liquid crystalline compounds with different shapes and chirality aspects have been used to prepare binary mixtures. An achiral hockey stick mesogen exhibiting a nematic–smectic C synclinic–smectic C anticlinic phase sequence has been blended with a chiral rod-like mesogen with a SmA*–ferroelectric (FE) SmC*–antiferroelectric (AF) SmC_A* phase sequence. Several frustrated phases (blue phases, TGBA and TGBC phases) have been induced in broad temperature and concentration ranges. By tailoring the composition of the chiral compound we succeeded in preparation of mixtures with unusual mesomorphic behaviour. We demonstrate a new system showing chiral nematic and antiferroelectric phases in its phase sequence.