A blue phase observed for a novel chiral compound possessing molecular biaxiality

Abstract

Novel chiral compounds possessing molecular biaxiality, T-shaped and bend-shaped compounds, have been prepared and the physical properties investigated. The T-shaped chiral compound was found to show a blue phase with a wide temperature range on cooling. A double twist structure formed by the T-shaped compound can stabilize the blue phase. Furthermore, the compound induced a twist grain boundary phase in the binary mixture with its corresponding monomeric compound.