Ferroelectric Nematic Liquid Crystals Showing High Birefringence
Abstract High birefringence nematic liquid crystals are particularly demanded for adaptive optics applications in the infrared spectrum because it enable a thinner cell gap for achieving fast response time and improved diffraction efficiency. The emerging ferroelectric nematic liquid crystals have a...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Advanced Science |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202414317 |
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| author | Yaohao Song Xiang Huang Xinxin Zhang Minghui Deng Satoshi Aya Mingjun Huang |
| author_facet | Yaohao Song Xiang Huang Xinxin Zhang Minghui Deng Satoshi Aya Mingjun Huang |
| author_sort | Yaohao Song |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract High birefringence nematic liquid crystals are particularly demanded for adaptive optics applications in the infrared spectrum because it enable a thinner cell gap for achieving fast response time and improved diffraction efficiency. The emerging ferroelectric nematic liquid crystals have attracted widespread interest in soft matter due to their unique combination of ferroelectricity and fluidity. However, the birefringence, which is one of the most important optical parameters in electro‐optic devices, is not large enough (<0.25) in most ferroelectric nematic materials. Here, a polar liquid crystal molecule library containing more than 60 molecules with a highly rigid and fluorinated nature is developed. The introduction of triple bonds constructs a long π‐electron conjugated mesogen skeleton, significantly improving the birefringence of polar liquid crystal phases. The birefringence and dispersion properties are systematically studied, demonstrating a strong dependence on chemical structures and the type of polar phases. Furthermore, through multi‐component mixing, polar liquid crystal mixtures with ultra‐wide temperature range and excellent stability at or near room temperature are obtained. They possess much higher birefringence than the existing ferroelectric liquid crystal materials. The unique combination of high birefringence and fluidic ferroelectricity is expected to promote the application of polar liquid crystals in electro‐optic technologies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f4e49aa375b247d5bafa035ddd659329 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2198-3844 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Advanced Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-f4e49aa375b247d5bafa035ddd6593292025-08-20T03:32:24ZengWileyAdvanced Science2198-38442025-03-01129n/an/a10.1002/advs.202414317Ferroelectric Nematic Liquid Crystals Showing High BirefringenceYaohao Song0Xiang Huang1Xinxin Zhang2Minghui Deng3Satoshi Aya4Mingjun Huang5South China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology School of Emergent Soft Matter South China University of Technology Guangzhou 510640 ChinaSouth China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology School of Emergent Soft Matter South China University of Technology Guangzhou 510640 ChinaSouth China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology School of Emergent Soft Matter South China University of Technology Guangzhou 510640 ChinaSouth China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology School of Emergent Soft Matter South China University of Technology Guangzhou 510640 ChinaSouth China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology School of Emergent Soft Matter South China University of Technology Guangzhou 510640 ChinaSouth China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology School of Emergent Soft Matter South China University of Technology Guangzhou 510640 ChinaAbstract High birefringence nematic liquid crystals are particularly demanded for adaptive optics applications in the infrared spectrum because it enable a thinner cell gap for achieving fast response time and improved diffraction efficiency. The emerging ferroelectric nematic liquid crystals have attracted widespread interest in soft matter due to their unique combination of ferroelectricity and fluidity. However, the birefringence, which is one of the most important optical parameters in electro‐optic devices, is not large enough (<0.25) in most ferroelectric nematic materials. Here, a polar liquid crystal molecule library containing more than 60 molecules with a highly rigid and fluorinated nature is developed. The introduction of triple bonds constructs a long π‐electron conjugated mesogen skeleton, significantly improving the birefringence of polar liquid crystal phases. The birefringence and dispersion properties are systematically studied, demonstrating a strong dependence on chemical structures and the type of polar phases. Furthermore, through multi‐component mixing, polar liquid crystal mixtures with ultra‐wide temperature range and excellent stability at or near room temperature are obtained. They possess much higher birefringence than the existing ferroelectric liquid crystal materials. The unique combination of high birefringence and fluidic ferroelectricity is expected to promote the application of polar liquid crystals in electro‐optic technologies.https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202414317ferroelectric nematichigh birefringenceliquid crystal |
| spellingShingle | Yaohao Song Xiang Huang Xinxin Zhang Minghui Deng Satoshi Aya Mingjun Huang Ferroelectric Nematic Liquid Crystals Showing High Birefringence Advanced Science ferroelectric nematic high birefringence liquid crystal |
| title | Ferroelectric Nematic Liquid Crystals Showing High Birefringence |
| title_full | Ferroelectric Nematic Liquid Crystals Showing High Birefringence |
| title_fullStr | Ferroelectric Nematic Liquid Crystals Showing High Birefringence |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ferroelectric Nematic Liquid Crystals Showing High Birefringence |
| title_short | Ferroelectric Nematic Liquid Crystals Showing High Birefringence |
| title_sort | ferroelectric nematic liquid crystals showing high birefringence |
| topic | ferroelectric nematic high birefringence liquid crystal |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202414317 |
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