AbstractHydrazide‐based non‐symmetric liquid crystal dimers were synthesized. The liquid crystalline properties were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarizing optical microscopy (POM), and powder X‐ray diffraction (XRD). These non‐symmetric liquid crystal dimers are evidenced to display the monolayer smectic C phase. The effects of the lateral intermolecular hydrogen bonding as well as the length of the terminal alkyl chains and the spacers on the mesophase are discussed. Our studies reveal that intermolecular hydrogen bonding between the hydrazide groups and microsegregation effect is the driving force for the formation of the monolayer smectic C structure. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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