Electric-field-induced transition between ferro- and antiferroelectric ground states observed in the B7 phase of a bent-shaped molecule with alkylthio tails

Abstract

We prepared a new bent-shaped molecule, in which dodecylthio tails and typical Schiff-based side wings are substituted on a conventional phenyl central core. This molecule forms the B7 phase in a temperature region from 117 to 142 °C, which shows characteristic banana leaf and circular domain textures. On application of an electric field, the B7 phase is easily transformed to the B2 phase with two different ground states, depending on the temperature. In the higher temperature region, the B2 phase possesses a homochiral ferroelectric (SmC_SP_F) ground state, whereas the lower temperature B2 phase has a homochiral antiferroelectric (SmC_AP_A) ground state. These two states transformed into each other reversibly at 124 °C under the applied field, while they are stable over the mesophase temperature on the field-off state.