title: Tuning the frustration between SmA- and SmC-promoting elements in liquid crystals with 'de Vries-like' properties.
abstract: Smectic liquid crystals with 'de Vries-like' properties are characterized by a maximum layer contraction of ≤1% upon transition from the non-tilted SmA phase to the tilted SmC phase. We show herein that one can systematically increase the 'de Vries-like' character of a smectic liquid crystal by tuning the frustration between SmA- and SmC-promoting elements according to established structure-property relationships.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Qingxiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Dorothee
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nonnenmacher
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Giesselmann
authors.forename: Robert P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Lemieux