ja052769n_si_001.pdf (226.46 kB)
Thermotropic Uniaxial and Biaxial Nematic and Smectic Phases in Bent-Core Mesogens
journal contribution
posted on 2005-12-14, 00:00 authored by Veena Prasad, Shin-Woong Kang, K. A. Suresh, Leela Joshi, Qingbing Wang, Satyendra KumarTwo azo substituted achiral bent-core mesogens have been synthesized. Optical polarizing
microscopy and synchrotron X-ray scattering studies of both compounds reveal the existence of the
thermotropic uniaxial and biaxial nematic and three smectic phases at different temperatures in these single
component small molecule systems. The transition from the uniaxial to biaxial nematic phase is confirmed
to be second order. The transitions from the biaxial nematic to the underlying smectic phase and between
the smectic phases have barely discernible heat capacity signatures and thus are also second order.