Influence of the mesogenic shape on the molecular dynamics and phase-biaxiality of liquid crystal main-chain polymers†
Abstract
Ever since the first theoretical phase diagram that was published by Straley in 1974, extensive theoretical efforts have been made on predicting the molecular shape and properties of mesogens that can form a biaxial-nematic phase. The theories suggest that mesogens, whose form is board-like rather than rod-like, are more likely to form biaxial phases. In this study we show that the onset of phase-biaxiality for nematic main-chain