New Ferroelectric Liquid Crystals Having 2-Fluoro-2-Methyl Alkanoyloxy Group

Abstract

Abstract We have prepared ferroelectric liquid crystals with newly designed chiral part, 2-fluoro-2-methyl alkanoyloxy group. The physical properties of the ferroelectric liquid crystals having this chiral part are compared with those of other ferroelectric liquid crystals having 2-fluoro alkanoyloxy group, 2-trifluoromethyl alkanoyloxy group, 2-fluoro-2-trifluoromethyl alkanoyloxy group and 2-methyl alkanoyloxy group. The ferroelectric liquid crystals having 2-fluoro-2-methyl alkanoyloxy group show large spontaneous polarization, compared with other fluorinated ferroelectric liquid crystals. We have investigated the effect of the core structures on the spontaneous polarization. Introduction of a pyrimidine ring in the core part extremely enhances spontaneous polarization, over 400 nC/cm2. Moreover, we have also investigated the effect of chiral dopants of the compound having this chiral part.