Evidence for triclinic symmetry in smectic liquid crystals of bent-shape molecules.
The first experimental evidence for triclinic symmetry of bulk smectic liquid-crystal samples of achiral banana-shaped molecules is presented. This phase corresponds to the so-called Sm-CG phase consisting of biaxial molecules and characterized by two tilt directions with respect to the layer normal: tilt of the molecular plane (clinic) and tilt of the molecular kink direction (leaning). Each smectic layer has a polarization component normal to the smectic layers (C1 symmetry). The observations suggest that the phase tentatively labeled as B7 is identical with the Sm-CG phase.
Jákli
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A
Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 44242, USA.
Krüerke
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D
Sawade
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H
Heppke
G
G