Intralayer molecular orientation in the B1 phase of a prototype bent-core molecule P-6-O-PIMB studied by X-ray microbeam diffraction

Abstract

The layer structure and intralayer molecular orientation in the B1 phase of a prototype bent-core molecule have been investigated using an X-ray microbeam. At small angles, in the absence of an electric field only one pair of diffraction spots was observed corresponding to a repeat distance of half the molecular length, whereas on applying a field, four spots were observed suggesting a modulated structure. At wide angles, four broad diffuse scattering peaks were observed without the electric field. These results indicate that the molecular bending plane is normal to the frustrated plane and this is different from the previous model of the B1 phase, but the same as the B1rev phase.