Abstract
The design and synthesis of the first of a new class of bow-phase (also known as banana-phase) mesogens possessing resorcylidene aniline groups in the core is described. The new achiral material, NORABOW, shows two chiral electro-optically active smectic phases, both existing over a wide temperature range. The high temperature smectic, which exists as the thermodynamically stable phase between 120 °C and 150 °C, exhibits electro-optic behavior not previously reported for a bow-phase. In particular, high susceptibility analog electro-optics (“V-shaped switching”) are observed in a texture which is stable to large applied electric fields. The electro-optic behavior of NORABOW is of potential utility in photonic switching applications.
- This article is part of the themed collection: Molecular topology in liquid crystals: Materials Discussion 4