Open Access Kent State (OAKS)

Three novel symmetrical bent-core compounds were synthesized where the terminal alkoxy linkages of the original bent-core inesogen forming a B-2 phase was converted to n-alkyl carboxylates. It is found that instead of the B-2 phase, all three compounds exhibit a transition between B-7' and B-2 mesophases. The physical and electro-optical properties have been investigated by polarizing optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction and electric field experiments. The higher temperature B-7' phase has been shown to exhibit bistable but analogous linear electro-optical Switching Without,my observable polarization peak. We analyze two theoretical models and find that a local triclinic symmetry may be responsible for the unusual electro-optical switching.