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  • Two distinct modulated laye...
    Zhang, Cuiyu; Diorio, Nicholas; Radhika, S.; Sadashiva, B.K.; Sprunt, Samuel N.; Jákli, Antal

    Liquid crystals, 09/2012, Volume: 39, Issue: 9
    Journal Article

    We present chemical synthesis, polarising optical microscopy, electric current, and small-angle X-ray scattering measurements on a strongly anisotropic bent-shape liquid crystal material. We find that it has two layer-undulated ferroelectric phases, M1 and M2. In the higher temperature M2 phase the undulation amplitude and period increases on cooling, similar to other published materials. It can be identified with a tilted modulated phase. In the M1 phase the molecular plane is not tilted, and - in sharp contrast with all prior observations - the modulation amplitude and period decrease on cooling. These observations can be explained with a 'leaning' director structure, where the leaning angle is decreasing on cooling.