Double helical structure of the twist-bend nematic phase investigated by resonant X-ray scattering at the carbon and sulfur K-edges

Soft Matter. 2018 Dec 12;14(48):9760-9763. doi: 10.1039/c8sm01215f.

Abstract

The mesogenic dimer displaying nematic and NTB phases was investigated by resonant X-ray scattering at both C and S absorption K-edges and supported by single X-ray crystallography. In the crystal resonant studies revealed the forbidden reflection in non-resonant diffraction similar to that found in the NTB phase. The lack of a second harmonic in both C and S resonant X-ray scattering supports the double helical structure of the twist-bend nematic phase.