Aggregation and electro-optical effects in a ferroelectric (side-chain liquid crystalline polymer/low molecular weight liquid crystal) composite system

摘要

Aggregation and electro-optical effects in the binary mixture containing ferroelectric side chain liquid crystalline polymer (FLCP) and low molecular weight liquid crystal (FLC) have been investigated. The FLCP is miscible with FLC having a spiral texture. The binary mixture exhibits a smectic A, a smectic C, and a chiral smectic C phase. The pitch length in the chiral smectic C phase of the binary mixture increases with increasing weight fraction of FLC. The d-spacing of the smectic layer decreases slightly with increasing weight fraction of FLC. A reversible transparent-opaque (light scattering) change was observed in the chiral smectic C state upon application of positive and negative DC electric fields, respectively. Transparent and opaque states are stable when the applied electric field is removed.