Thermal and X-Ray Diffraction Studies of Liquid Crystals Incorporating a Perfluoroalkyl Group

Abstract

Abstract Thermal properties of some liquid crystals incorporating a perfluoroalkyl group have been examined. The perfluoroalkyl group tends to enhance the smectic properties. The layer spacing in the smectic A and C phases was examined by X-ray diffraction, showing that the ratio of the layer spacing to the calculated molecular length is dependent on the entirety of molecular structures rather than the length of the perfluoroalkyl chain, and is in the range between 1.0 and 1.4. Novel perfluoroalkyl 3- or 4-substituted benzenes exhibiting smectic A phase were also prepared. Key Words: smecticx-ray studiesperfluoroalkyl group