Sub-structures and phase transitions of bi-tilted smectic CG in dimer liquid crystals induced by amide functionalised graphene oxide

Abstract

ABSTRACT A unique ferroelectric smectic CG phase, in its bi-tilting configurations induced by admixture of the dimeric liquid crystal (LC) 7OBA, serving as an matrix and amide functionalised graphene oxide (AmGO) was presented. Thus, an electrooptically tunable functionalised nanocomposite, indicating bi-tilting state, displayed by two sub-structures, CGcl (clinic) and CGln (leaning) was created. Using both microtextural and DSC analysis, we studied the thermal and structural features of the functionalised nanocomposite. By endothermal peak asymmetry analysis, we found an intermediate between CGcl and CGln state. An enhanced degrees of freedom of the LC director was indicated, allowing an increase of the corresponding micropolarisation LC textures able to create surface memorisation and reach information, respectively.