title: Two-Dimensional Skyrmion Lattice Formation in a Nematic Liquid Crystal Consisting of Highly Bent Banana Molecules.
abstract: We synthesized a novel banana-shaped molecule based on a 1,7-naphthalene central core that exhibits a distinct mesomorphism of the nematic-to-nematic phase transition. Both the X-ray profile and direct imaging of atomic force microscopy (AFM) investigations clearly indicates the formation of an anomalous nematic phase possessing a two-dimensional (2D) tetragonal lattice with a large edge (ca. 59 Å) directed perpendicular to the director in the low-temperature nematic phase. One plausible model is proposed by an analogy of skyrmion lattice in which two types of cylinders formed from left- and right-handed twist-bend helices stack into a 2D tetragonal lattice, diminishing the inversion domain wall.
authors: Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Materials and Chemical Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 O-okayama, Tokyo, 152-8552, Japan. skang@polymer.titech.ac.jp.
authors: Sungmin
authors: 0000-0002-4440-3544
authors: S
authors: Kang
authors: Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Materials and Chemical Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 O-okayama, Tokyo, 152-8552, Japan.
authors: Eun-Woo
authors: EW
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Materials and Chemical Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 O-okayama, Tokyo, 152-8552, Japan.
authors: Tianqi
authors: T
authors: Li
authors: Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Materials and Chemical Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 O-okayama, Tokyo, 152-8552, Japan.
authors: Xiaobin
authors: X
authors: Liang
authors: Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Materials and Chemical Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 O-okayama, Tokyo, 152-8552, Japan.
authors: Masatoshi
authors: M
authors: Tokita
authors: Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Materials and Chemical Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 O-okayama, Tokyo, 152-8552, Japan.
authors: Ken
authors: K
authors: Nakajima
authors: Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Materials and Chemical Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 O-okayama, Tokyo, 152-8552, Japan.
authors: Junji
authors: J
authors: Watanabe
keywords: bent-shaped molecule; liquid crystals; nematic phase; phase transition; tetragonal symmetry