Molecular engineering of discotic nematic liquid crystals

Abstract

Connecting two columnar phase forming discotic mesogens via a short rigid spacer leads to the formation of a π conjugated discotic dimmer showing discotic nematic (ND) phase. Attaching branched-alkyl chains directly to the core in hexaalkynylbenzene resulted in the stabilization of ND phase at ambient temperature. Pentalkynylbenzene derivatives possessing a combination of normal and branched alkoxy chains display a very broad ND phase which is stable well below and above the room temperature.