Molecular field theory for biaxial nematics formed from liquid crystal dimers and inhibited by the twist-bend nematic.
Phys Chem Chem Phys
; 19(43): 29321-29332, 2017 Nov 08.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-29072729
Liquid crystal dimers with odd spacers are good candidates as materials for biaxial nematic phases (NB). The dimers are flexible molecules sustaining biaxial conformations, and couplings between the conformational and orientational distributions could be expected to stabilise NB. We apply a molecular field theory for flexible molecules developed elsewhere to study a simple system made up of dimers composed of two cylindrically symmetric mesogenic groups. Our model allows for two idealised conformations: one linear and one bent at a tetrahedral angle. For a restricted set of chain lengths, the model predicts a first-order reentrant phase transition from the NB phase into a low temperature uniaxial nematic phase (NU). However the formation of the biaxial nematic could be blocked by the appearance of a twist-bent nematic.
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1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Tipo de estudio:
Prognostic_studies
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Phys Chem Chem Phys
Asunto de la revista:
BIOFISICA
/
QUIMICA
Año:
2017
Tipo del documento:
Article
Pais de publicación:
Reino Unido