Evidence for a new ferroelectric switching liquid crystalline phase formed by a carbosilane based dendrimer with banana-shaped mesogenic units

J Am Chem Soc. 2002 Dec 18;124(50):14852-3. doi: 10.1021/ja028508k.

Abstract

The first carbosilane dendrimer with peripheral bent-core mesogenic units is reported. This material forms a liquid crystalline phase which is stable over a wide temperature range and forms an LC glass on cooling. Polarizing microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and dielectric and electrooptic investigations reveal the presence of a novel liquid crystalline phase, in which the molecules are tilted and adapt a polar order within the layers, but without long-range correlation between the layers. By applying external electric fields, switching into a ferroelectric organization can be achieved. Once formed the ferroelectric states are stable and can be switched between the different polarization states.