Ferroelectric switching in columnar phases of novel chiral discotic liquid crystals

Abstract

Novel 2,3,6,7,9,10-hexasubstituted phenanthrene derivatives have been synthesized, which showed broad enantiotropic columnar phases. A mixture of one representative bearing six (S)-2-methyl-3-oxa-decanoyloxy side chains with its 1,2,3,6,7,8-hexasubstituted structural isomer showed a tilted columnar phase and exhibited ferroelectrical switching with a maximum spontaneous polarization of 54 nC cm^–2. Here the detailed investigations of the electrical and optical properties of this mixture are presented. The possible phase structure is also discussed.