Antiferroelectric liquid crystal and its manufacturing method

Abstract

Rod-like molecules () are admixed into a smectic C liquid crystal (). According to the least-energy principle for electrostatic energy each rod-like molecule () has its permanent dipole moment aligned in a direction along a boundary layer between adjacent molecular layers of the liquid crystal and such permanent dipoles in adjacent boundary layers are aligned with their dipole moments opposed to each other in the direction of orientation. The character '<' bar regions of rod-like molecules () cause liquid crystal molecules inclined along their major axes to be axially inclined in an opposite direction every other layer whereby a smectic Cphase is formed in which the layer of liquid crystal molecules inclined in one direction and the layer of those inclined in the other direction alternate. Using a chiral smectic Cliquid crystal formed from chiral smectic C-phase liquid crystal molecules by substituting a terminal group of each such molecule with an optically active group gives rise to an antiferroelectric liquid crystal.