title: A Monte Carlo study of the mesophases formed by polar bent-shaped molecules.
abstract: Liquid crystal phases formed by bent-shaped (or "banana") molecules are currently of great interest. Here we investigate by Monte Carlo computer simulations the phases formed by rigid banana molecules modeled combining three Gay-Berne sites and containing either one central or two lateral and transversal dipoles. We show that changing the dipole position and orientation has a profound effect on the mesophase stability and molecular organization. In particular, we find a uniaxial nematic phase only for off-center dipolar models and tilted phases only for the one with terminal dipoles.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Chimica Fisica e Inorganica, and INSTM, Università di Bologna, Viale Risorgimento 4, 40136 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Orlandi
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Berardi
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Steltzer
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zannoni