Ferroelectric and antiferroelectric switching behaviour in new unsymmetrical bent-core compounds derived from 3-hydroxybenzoic acid

Abstract

Herein we report the synthesis and characterization of several achiral bent-core unsymmetrical compounds exhibiting mesomorphic properties. The lower homologues in two series of compounds show a columnar phase with a rectangular lattice whereas the middle homologues exhibit a novel columnar phase with an oblique lattice. Interestingly, three of the higher homologues of the laterally unsubstituted compounds exhibit a smectic phase with ferroelectric switching characteristics and the analogous fluoro-substituted compounds show a smectic phase that is composed of antiferroelectric conglomerates.