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Updated: Apr 18, 2026

Novel Techniques for Observing Structural Dynamics of Photoresponsive Liquid Crystals
Published on: May 29, 2018
Possible influence of layer deformation and chiral segregation on dielectric modes in the dark conglomerate liquid
Deepa G Bhat1, Radhika Selvaraj, Sadashiva B Kapanipathaiya
1Raman Research Institute, C. V. Raman Avenue, Sadashivanagar, Bangalore 560 080 (India).
Abstract:
Dielectric spectroscopy is used to investigate the structure, molecular dynamics, and relaxation phenomena in electric-field-induced switchable dark conglomerate (DC) phases in a bent-core liquid crystal. The DC phases are obtained by applying a high-frequency ac electric field in the B1rev phase or by cooling under a dc or an ac field from the isotropic phase. Although the DC phases exhibit good electro-optic switching properties, the dielectric parameters are different from those observed in typical lamellar SmCP phases and similar to those obtained in a non-switchable DC phase. We therefore propose that the dielectric response and reduced intensity of the relaxation modes may be a general feature in DC phases and may owe its origin to the deformed layer structure in which certain molecular motions are impeded. Further, we find that in the field-induced DC phases derived from the isotropic phase, the dielectric modes are affected by chiral segregation promoted by the applied field.
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