Enhanced enantiotropic B2 phase by mixing homologous chlorine-substituted molecules

Abstract

The phase diagram of a binary system was presented by mixing two components: an achiral five-ring bent-core molecule with monotropic B2 phase and a homologous chlorine-substituted bent-core molecule with enantiotropic nematic phase and monotropic X phase. Depending on the mixing concentrations, the enantiotropic B2 phase, B1 phase and nematic phase were induced in the mixed phase region. The mesophases occurring in this system were characterised by optical textures, X-ray diffraction and electro-optical measurements. The results indicated that the formation of the enantiotropic B2 phase occurred even when the mixing concentration reached 60 mol%. The spontaneous polarisation and switching time of the B2 phase are also discussed.