Relationship between Molecular Association and Re-entrant Phenomena in Polar Calamitic Liquid Crystals

Unlocking the action mechanisms of molecular nonlinear optical absorption for optical conjugated polymers under aggregation states

Controlling the molecular microstructure and the molecular aggregation state under different conditions to improve the MNOA performance of OCPs.

Rational Design of Rod-Like Liquid Crystals Exhibiting Two Nematic Phases

Recently, a polar, rod‐like liquid‐crystalline material was reported to exhibit two distinct nematic mesophases (termed N and N_X) separated by a weakly first‐order transition. Herein, we present our initial studies into the structure–property relationships that underpin the occurrence of the lower‐temperature nematic phase, and report several new materials that exhibit this same transformation. We have prepared material with significantly enhanced temperature ranges, allowing us to perform a detailed study of both the upper‐ and lower‐temperature nematic phases by using small‐angle X‐ray scattering. We observed a continuous change in d spacing rather than a sharp change at the phase transition, a result consistent with a transition between two nematic phases, structures of which are presumably degenerate.

Evaluation of 4-alkoxy-4′-nitrobiphenyl liquid crystals for use in next generation scattering LCDs

A combination of microscopy, X-ray scattering, calorimetry and applied electric field studies demonstrates the 4-alkoxy-4′-nitrobiphenyls are potentially of use for next generation, backlight free scattering mode LCD devices.

A nematic to nematic transformation exhibited by a rod-like liquid crystal

A polar, rod-like liquid crystalline material was observed to exhibit two distinct nematic mesophases separated by a first-order phase transition.

Does Topology Dictate the Incidence of the Twist-Bend Phase? Insights Gained from Novel Unsymmetrical Bimesogens

We prepared a significant number of unsymmetrical liquid-crystalline dimers that exhibit the twist-bend nematic phase; a state of matter that exhibits spontaneous breaking of mirror symmetry and, for some materials, a microsecond electrooptic response. A number of novel unsymmetrical bimesogens were synthesized and in comparing their thermal behaviour to previous literature examples, we have uncovered an unexpected relationship between the thermal stability of the nematic and NTB phases. This relationship demonstrates that molecular shape dictates the incidence of this fascinating phase of matter and leads us to speculate as to the existence of "twist-bend nematic phases" on length scales beyond those of the molecule.

Progression from nano to macro science in soft matter systems: dimers to trimers and oligomers in twist-bend liquid crystals

In this article we report several unsymmetrical phenyl-benzoate bimesogens that exhibit the twist-bend nematic phase and present further examples of oligomeric systems that display this unusual state of matter.