Theory of the dielectric susceptibility of liquid crystals with polar nonuniaxial molecules

TL;DR

This paper develops a statistical mean field theory for the dielectric susceptibility of polar liquid crystals with cone-shaped molecules, predicting temperature-dependent order parameters and susceptibilities.

Contribution

It introduces a novel theoretical model for polar liquid crystals with nonuniaxial, cone-like molecules, extending the Maier-Saupe approach.

Findings

Calculated temperature dependence of order parameters.

Predicted dielectric susceptibilities for various molecular parameters.

Analyzed the impact of molecular shape on phase behavior.

Abstract

Statistical theory of the dielectric susceptibility of polar liquid crystals is proposed. The molecules are not uniaxial but similar to cones. It is assumed that the permanent dipole moment of a molecule is parallel to the axis of the rotational symmetry. The ordering of the phase is described by means of the mean field theory based on the Maier-Saupe approach. The theory was used to calculate the temperature dependence of the order parameters and the susceptibilities. Predictions of the model for different sets of parameters are investigated.