Ferroelectric and electroclinic liquid crystal materials with sub-ambient temperature stability, broad operation range, and fast dynamic response

摘要

A new class of mesogenic compounds has the formula:where R1 is an ester (-COO-) group; R2 is H, NO2, CN, F, or Cl; R3 is H, CH2=CH, or (CH3)3Si; k is 1 or 2; q is 0 or 1; m is from 2 to 16; n is from 2 to 12; r is from 0 to n-1 (but not greater than 3 or 4); s=1 when r=0, s=0 when r<> 0; x is from 0 to 4; and * denotes the position of a chiral carbon. Compounds within this class will have a smectic A* phase, and in some cases a smectic C* phase. Mixtures including one or more of these mesogenic compounds will be useful for a variety of applications.