Nano-Clustering Mediates Phase Transitions in a Diastereomerically-Stabilized Ferroelectric Nematic System

TL;DR

This paper investigates how nano-clustering influences phase transitions in ferroelectric nematic liquid crystals, revealing that mixing diastereomers affects the formation of smectic clusters and alters phase behavior.

Contribution

It introduces the role of diastereomer mixing in controlling NF phase transitions and cluster formation, providing insights into stabilization of ferroelectric nematic phases.

Findings

Diatomere mixing affects NF phase transition behavior.

Smectic cybotactic clusters are influenced by diastereomer exchange.

Alteration of phase transition is linked to cluster formation changes.

Abstract

During the last half-decade, a new class of ferroic-fluid, ferroelectric nematic liquid crystals (NFLCs), creates a noise owing to its exceptional properties such as a colossal polarization, high electro-optic activity plus high fluidity. Regardless of recent huge efforts on design and development of new NFLC molecules based on molecular parameters, the control of NF phase transitions and the stabilization of NF phase are still challenging. Here we discuss the impact of mixing of DIO diastereomer [transDIO (1) and cisDIO (2)] to the NF phase transition, in terms of the smectic cybotactic cluster formation examined by X-ray diffraction. Interestingly, the result suggests that smooth exchange of NFLC 1 by non-LC 2 both with similar dipole and molecular backbone plays a role in the alteration of the NF phase transition.