Communication: Experimental proof of symmetry breaking in tilted smectics composed of molecules with axial chirality

J Chem Phys. 2010 Dec 14;133(22):221102. doi: 10.1063/1.3525644.

Abstract

For the first time, domains with twisted structures have been established in planar samples of achiral compounds in tilted smectic C phase. This evidences separation of molecular conformers differing in the sense of axial chirality and confirms polar C(2) symmetry of these domains. A simple model considering polar surface anchoring energy and bulk energy of the twist can account for this finding. Conditions for coexistence of twisted and homogeneous domains are discussed.