On the structure of the Nx phase of symmetric dimers
December 4th, 2014
Anke Hoffmann, Alexandros G. Vanakaras, Alexandra Kohlmeier, Georg H. Mehl, Demetri J. Photinos, arXiv:1401.5445 [cond-Mat]. (2014). http://arxiv.org/abs/1401.5445.
Abstract: NMR measurements on a selectively deuteriated liquid crystal dimer CB-C9-CB exhibiting two nematic phases show that the molecules in the lower temperature nematic phase, Nx, experience a chiral environment and are ordered about a unique direction. The results are contrasted with previous reports that proposed a twist-bend spatial variation of the director. A structural model is proposed wherein the molecules show organization into highly correlated assemblies of opposite chirality.
Categories: 2014, A. G. Vanakaras, D.J. Photinos