Observation of polar order and thermochromic behaviour in a chiral bent-core system exhibiting exotic mesophases due to superstructural frustration

Abstract

A new approach accompanied by superstructural frustration is reported. By attaching a cholesterol moiety directly to the central bent-core system it displayed exotic BPIII, BPII/I, N_cyb*, TGBA, SmAP_A, SmA and SmX phases as shown by X-ray scattering results. While higher homologues of the series exhibited spontaneous formation of polar order (P_s ∼ 61 nC cm⁻²) upon applied voltage, the lower homologues showed thermochromic behaviour which can also be trapped via temperature quenching.