A liquid crystalline phase with uniform tilt, local polar order and capability of symmetry breaking

Shear-induced birefringence in an optically isotropic cubic liquid crystalline phase

We report an unusually strong flow-induced birefringence in an optically isotropic cubic phase occurring below the isotropic chiral conglomerate phase formed by a low-molecular-weight polycatenar mesogen. The transition into the birefringent state occurs thresholdless and the induced birefringence is comparable with that observed in polymeric systems. We suggest that the flow-induced deformation of the cubic structure is responsible for the strong rheo-optical response.

Transition from lamellar to nanostructure mesophases in azobenzene-based hockey-stick polycatenars

Tuning from 1D to 3D mesophases by alkyl chain engineering. Multichain π-conjugated hockey-stick molecules form lamellar SmA and meso-structure Ia3̄d with continuous networks. The effect of the position of the central bent-core unit on helical self-assembly is discussed.

Photosensitive Bent-Core Compounds with Azo-Group Attached to the Central Ring

We prepared and studied bent-core liquid crystalline (LC) compounds based on 1,3-disubstituted benzene in a central part and azo-linkage attached directly to this bent core. We designed three structures and checked their mesogenic properties, as well as photosensitivity. We found that two studied compounds revealed columnar LC mesophases, which we transformed to the isotropic phase under the illumination of UV light. We concluded that only one type of structural motif was not mesogenic. For LC compounds, we established phases and phase transition temperatures based on differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements and observations in a polarizing microscope. To confirm phase identification, X-ray studies were performed and structural parameters describing the columnar phases supplied.

Stereochemical Rules Govern the Soft Self-Assembly of Achiral Compounds: Understanding the Heliconical Liquid-Crystalline Phases of Bent-Core Mesogens

A series of bent-shaped 4-cyanoresorcinol bisterephthalates is reported. Some of these achiral compounds spontaneously form a short-pitch heliconical lamellar liquid-crystalline phase with incommensurate 3-layer pitch and the helix axis parallel to the layer normal. It is observed at the paraelectric-(anti)ferroelectric transition, if it coincides with the transition from random to uniform tilt and with the transition from anticlinic to synclinic tilt correlation of the molecules in the layers of the developing tilted smectic phase. For compounds with long chains the heliconical phase is only field-induced, but once formed it is stable in a distinct temperature range, even after switching off the field. The presence of the helix changes the phase properties and the switching mechanism from the naturally preferred rotation around the molecular long axis, which reverses the chirality, to a precession on a cone, which retains the chirality. These observations are explained by diastereomeric relations between two coexisting modes of superstructural chirality. One is the layer chirality, resulting from the combination of tilt and polar order, and the other one is the helical twist evolving between the layers. At lower temperature the helical structure is replaced by a non-tilted and ferreoelectric switching lamellar phase, providing an alternative non-chiral way for the transition from anticlinic to synclinic tilt.

Linear symmetric liquid crystal trimers exhibiting supramolecular chiral architectures

We prepared a homologous series of achiral liquid crystal trimers (I-n) in which two phenylpyrimidine units and one biphenyl unit were connected via flexible spacers, and investigated the physical properties. All the trimers possessing odd-numbered methylene spacers exhibited soft crystalline chiral conglomerate phases. X-ray diffraction measurements reveal that they have an intercalated layer structure. On the other hand, the trimers possessing even-numbered spacers showed nematic and smectic C phases. We investigated the surface structures of odd-membered trimers in the soft crystalline phases using scanning electron microscopy. Trimers I-3 and I-5 were found to form cylindrical tubes, whereas trimers I-7, I-9 and I-11 toroidal pits. We discuss the formation of diverse supramolecular architectures in terms of the anisotropy of the chirality transfer.

Porous surface of an achiral trimer in the chiral conglomerate phase catalyzes a direct aldol reaction

The honeycomb-like porous surface consisting of linear trimer molecules catalyzes the direct aldol reaction of acetone with benzaldehyde at room temperature to give racemic β-hydroxyketone.

Short bent-core molecules: X-ray, polarization, dielectricity, texture and electro-optics investigations

Bent-core liquid crystals based on 1,2,4-oxadiazole as a central unit have been the first mesogens to exhibit a ferroelectric response in the nematic phase. This behavior has been widely recognized as due to the presence of smectic-like polar cybotactic clusters permeating the nematic phase. Unfortunately, these compounds exhibited rather high melting points, about 120 °C, due to the presence of four benzene rings in the molecules. Here we describe the synthesis and physical characterization of a new series of BC mesogens, featuring the same bent core as the previous compounds but shorter outer substituents. By keeping only two benzene rings, we were able to lower the melting points to about 70 °C. However, while X-ray diffraction and dielectric spectroscopy measurements confirm the cybotactic nature of the nematic phase of these compounds, polarization and electro-optical measurements ascribe their polar response to flexoelectricity rather than to spontaneous polarization. Finally, texture investigation suggests the biaxiality of the nematic phase, which is indicated also by conoscopic measurements. These results are important for recognizing size and rigidity limitations in designing bent-core liquid crystal molecules suitable for applications.

Photosensitive bent-core liquid crystals based on methyl substituted 3-hydroxybenzoic acid

Photosensitive liquid crystals are of contemporary interest not only from the scientific point of view but also for various applications. The chemical structure of materials is used to tune their mesomorphic and photosensitive properties.

Emergence of polar order and tilt in terephthalate based bent-core liquid crystals

The shown compound forms ferroelectric domains in a SmA phase, which adopt antipolar correlations before condensing into a weakly tilted antiferroelectric smectic phase.

Effects of molecular chirality on self-assembly and switching in liquid crystals at the cross-over between rod-like and bent shapes

A bent-core compound derived from a 4-cyanoresorcinol core unit with two terephthalate based rod-like wings and carrying chiral 3,7-dimethyloctyloxy side chains has been synthesized in racemic and enantiomerically pure form and characterized by polarizing microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction and electro-optical investigations to study the influence of molecular chirality on the superstructural chirality and polar order in lamellar liquid crystalline phases. Herein we demonstrate that the coupling of molecular chirality with superstructural layer chirality in SmCsPF domain phases (forming energetically distinct diastereomeric pairs) can fix the tilt direction and thus stabilize synpolar order, leading to bistable ferroelectric switching in the SmC* phases of the (S)-enantiomer, whereas tristable modes determine the switching of the racemate. Moreover, the mechanism of electric field induced molecular reorganization changes from a rotation around the molecular long axis in the racemate to a rotation on the tilt-cone for the (S)-enantiomer. At high temperature the enantiomer behaves like a rod-like molecule with a chirality induced ferroelectric SmC* phase and an electroclinic effect in the SmA'* phase. At reduced temperature sterically induced polarization, due to the bent molecular shape, becomes dominating, leading to much higher polarization values, thus providing access to high polarization ferroelectric materials with weakly bent compounds having only "weakly chiral" stereogenic units. Moreover, the field induced alignment of the SmCsPF(()*()) domains gives rise to a special kind of electroclinic effect appearing even in the absence of molecular chirality. Comparison with related compounds indicates that the strongest effects of chirality appear for weakly bent molecules with a relatively short coherence length of polar order, whereas for smectic phases with long range polar order the effects of the interlayer interfaces can override the chirality effects.

Spontaneous helix formation in non-chiral bent-core liquid crystals with fast linear electro-optic effect

Liquid crystals (LCs) represent one of the foundations of modern communication and photonic technologies. Present display technologies are based mainly on nematic LCs, which suffer from limited response time for use in active colour sequential displays and limited image grey scale. Herein we report the first observation of a spontaneously formed helix in a polar tilted smectic LC phase (SmC phase) of achiral bent-core (BC) molecules with the axis of helix lying parallel to the layer normal and a pitch much shorter than the optical wavelength. This new phase shows fast (∼30 μs) grey-scale switching due to the deformation of the helix by the electric field. Even more importantly, defect-free alignment is easily achieved for the first time for a BC mesogen, thus providing potential use in large-scale devices with fast linear and thresholdless electro-optical response.

Liquid crystals that consist of rod-like molecules currently dominate the materials used in industry for display and photonic applications. Here, the authors demonstrate electro-optic grey-scale switching based on the spontaneous formation of a short-pitch helix in a tilted smectic phase of achiral bent-core molecules.

Spontaneous Mirror-Symmetry Breaking in Isotropic Liquid Phases of Photoisomerizable Achiral Molecules

Spontaneous mirror-symmetry breaking is of fundamental importance in science as it contributes to the development of chiral superstructures and new materials and has a major impact on the discussion around the emergence of uniform chirality in biological systems. Herein we report chirality synchronization, leading to spontaneous chiral conglomerate formation in isotropic liquids of achiral and photoisomerizable azobenzene-based rod-like molecules. The position of fluorine substituents at the aromatic core is found to have a significant effect on the stability and the temperature range of these chiral liquids. Moreover, these liquid conglomerates occur in a new phase sequence adjacent to a 3D tetragonal mesophase.

Mirror symmetry breaking in fluorinated bent-core mesogens

New fluorinated bent-core liquid crystals exhibiting helical nano-crystallite phases composed of chiral domains with opposite handedness and polar smcetic phases.

Mirror symmetry breaking in cubic phases and isotropic liquids driven by hydrogen bonding

Achiral hydrogen bonded rod-like complexes with four nonequally distributed terminal alkyl chains form a chirality synchronized isotropic liquid conglomerate as well as a conglomerate type chiral cubic phase.

Chiral conglomerates observed for a binary mixture of a nematic liquid crystal trimer and 6OCB

Dark conglomerates of domains with opposite handedness, which are designated as dark conglomerate phases (DC phases), have attracted much attention. After designing an achiral liquid crystal trimer, 4,4′-bis{7-[4-(5-octyloxypyrimidin-2-yl)phenyloxy]heptyloxy}biphenyl (1), which exhibits only a nematic phase, we prepared binary mixtures with some typical rod-like nematic liquid crystals, i.e., 4′-hexyloxy-4-cyanobiphenyl (6OCB), 2-(4-hexyloxyphenyl)-5-pentyloxypyrimidine (PPY), or 4-methyloxyphenyl 4-hexyloxycyclohexanecarboxylate (PCA), and investigated their phase transition behaviour. The binary mixtures containing 55–90 mol% of 6OCB were found to exhibit a nematic phase and a DC phase of chiral domains with opposite handedness. However, neither PPY nor PCA induced such a chiral conglomerate phase in the mixture with trimer 1. We discuss how core–core interactions contribute to produce such a chiral conglomerate phase.

Twist grain boundary (TGB) states of chiral liquid crystalline bent-core mesogens

Chiral 4-cyanoresorcinol derived bent-core molecules form liquid crystalline phases with helically deformed layers representing TGBA and TGBC-like structures.

Dark conglomerate phases of azobenzene derived bent-core mesogens - relationships between the molecular structure and mirror symmetry breaking in soft matter

New 4-bromoresorcinol based bent-core molecules with peripheral fluoro substituted azobenzene wings have been synthesized and the liquid crystalline self-assembly was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), optical polarizing microscopy (POM), electro-optic studies and X-ray diffraction (XRD). A new type of optically isotropic mesophase composed of chiral domains with opposite handedness (dark conglomerate phases, DC phases) is observed, which for some homologues with medium alkyl chain length is stable down to ambient temperature. It is proposed that these DC phases are formed by helical twisted nano-domains of limited size and composed of the crystallized aromatic cores which are separated by the disordered alkyl chains. This structure is distinct from the previously known soft helical nano-filament phases (HNF phases, B4 phases) formed by extended crystalline nano-filaments and also distinct from the fluid sponge phases composed of deformed fluid layers. Comparison with related bent-core molecules having H, F, Cl, I, CH3 and CN groups in the 4-position at the resorcinol core, either with or without additional peripheral fluorines, provided information about the effects of these substituents on the tendency to form DC phases. Based on these relationships and by comparison with the minimum energy conformations obtained by DFT calculations a hypothesis is provided for the formation of DC phases depending on the molecular structure.

Dynamic mirror-symmetry breaking in bicontinuous cubic phases

Chiral segregation of enantiomers or chiral conformers of achiral molecules during self-assembly in well-ordered crystalline superstructures has fascinated chemists since Pasteur. Here we report spontaneous mirror-symmetry breaking in cubic phases formed by achiral multichain-terminated diphenyl-2,2'-bithiophenes. It was found that stochastic symmetry breaking is a general phenomenon observed in bicontinuous cubic liquid crystal phases of achiral rod-like compounds. In all compounds studied the Im3̄m cubic phase is always chiral, while the Ia3̄d phase is achiral. These intriguing observations are explained by propagation of homochiral helical twist across the entire networks through helix matching at network junctions. In the Ia3̄d phase the opposing chiralities of the two networks cancel, but not so in the three-networks Im3̄m phase. The high twist in the Im3̄m phase explains its previously unrecognized chirality, as well as the origin of this complex structure and the transitions between the different cubic phases.

Development of polar order and tilt in lamellar liquid crystalline phases of a bent-core mesogen

A new bent-core mesogen combining a 4-cyanoresorcinol unit with two terephthalate based rod-like wings and terminated by two long alkyl chains, was synthesized and investigated by DSC, XRD, optical, electrooptical and dielectric methods. A series of liquid crystalline phases in the unique sequence SmA-SmA(P)-SmCPR-(M1/SmCPα)-SmCsPA-SmCPA-SmCaPA, mainly distinguished by the degree and mode of correlation of tilt and polar order, was observed. The development of polar order is associated with the emergence of a small tilt (<10°). With decreasing temperature the tilt changes from random (SmA) via synclinic to anticlinic, while the coherence length of the polar domains grows. This small tilt gives rise to an only weak layer coupling which is in competition with the polar coupling and this leads to new modes of self assembly in lamellar phases of bent-core mesogens, among them the SmCPR and the SmCPα phases. The SmCPR phase is an only slightly tilted biaxial smectic phase with randomized polar order and the SmCPα phase is a slightly tilted and antiferroelectric switching, but uniaxial smectic phase. For this phase a regular change of the in-plane polarization vector between the layers by an angle between >0° and <90° is proposed.

Bent-core liquid crystal phases promoted by azo-containing molecules: from monomers to side-chain polymers

In situ photopolymerization or ATRP in solution provide azo-containing polymers showing room temperature SmCP_g arrangements and broad ranges of SmCP mesophase.

Development of structural complexity by liquid-crystal self-assembly

Since the discovery of the liquid-crystalline state of matter 125 years ago, this field has developed into a scientific area with many facets. This Review presents recent developments in the molecular design and self-assembly of liquid crystals. The focus is on new exciting soft-matter structures distinct from the usually observed nematic, smectic, and columnar phases. These new structures have enhanced complexity, including multicompartment and cellular structures, periodic and quasiperiodic arrays of spheres, and new emergent properties, such as ferroelctricity and spontaneous achiral symmetry-breaking. Comparisons are made with developments in related fields, such as self-assembled monolayers, multiblock copolymers, and nanoparticle arrays. Measures of structural complexity used herein are the size of the lattice, the number of distinct compartments, the dimensionality, and the logic depth of the resulting supramolecular structures.