Research Plan:

The present proposal covers an interdisciplinary field of chemistry, physical chemistry and physics. The work aims to address synthesis and complex study of a new class of liquid crystals composed of bent shaped molecules. The investigations extend to physico-chemical properties (identification of the phase sequence of the substances, textural characterization of the phases, determination of the phase transition temperatures, miscibility studies, etc.) as well as to the key intrinsic physical properties of the phases, such as flexoelectricity, ferroelectricity, electro-optics, special features of the structural phase transitions, rheological and/or viscoelastic properties, pattern forming instabilities.

The main goals of the project are:

- study of the key intrinsic properties of the liquid crystal phases formed by bent-core molecules, and investigation of their response to applied fields and forces

- search for and characterize novel phenomena like polar nematic switching, consequences of giant flexoelectricity, novel pattern forming modes,

- synthesis of new classes of bent-core molecules

- look for new technological applications

2006. 05. 03