Observation of very large chiral domains in a liquid crystal phase formed by mixtures of achiral bent-core and rod molecules

Abstract

Experimental observations on the B4 phase of liquid crystal mixtures formed from bent-core (P-8-O-PIMB) and rod (5CB) achiral molecules reveal the stabilization of the B4 phase with an unusually large size of chiral domains. The phenomenon is interpreted as an intrinsic property of the B4 phase when arising below the isotropic liquid (Iso); actually direct transition between Iso and B4 phases occurs except for only very limited regions of pure P-8-O-PIMB and 5CB molecules. The phase diagram of the mixture shows the existence of a new phase, closely related to the B4 phase.