Antiferroelectric Liquid-Crystal Gels

The synthesis and characterization of several mesogenic antiferroelectric gelsobtained by in situ photopolymerization of mixtures of a nonchiral diacrylate and a nonreactive compound with an antiferroelectric SmC*A phaseis described. Along with kinetic aspects from their photopolymerization processes, information has been obtained concerning the dielectric permittivity, spontaneous polarization, optical response to an applied electric field, and the influence that the photopolymerization conditions and the structural characteristics of the network have on these properties. We have found that the polymer network not only stabilizes the antiferroelectric orientation but also alters the electro-optic properties of the liquid crystal.