Some Unusual Properties of 4-n-Decylphenyl-3′-Methyl-4′-(4″-Nitrobenzoyloxy)Benzoate

Abstract

Abstract 4-n-Decylphenyl-3′-methyl-4′-(4″-nitro-benzoyloxy)benzoate (10 PMNBB) which exhibits the smectic A and nematic mesophases shows a large expansion (∼20%) of the bilayer spacing as it is cooled in the mesomorphic range. This is accompanied by a reversal in the sign of the dielectric anisotropy which becomes negative at lower temperatures.