A laterally fluoro-substituted "banana-shaped" liquid crystal showing antiferroelectricity

We present the synthesis, mesomorphic properties, and physical investigations of a new "banana-shaped" liquid crystal possessing lateral fluoro-substituents. The material shows only one enantiotropic phase which displays the unique "telephone-wire" microscopic texture identical to that of the "B 7 " phase discovered recently. The phase exhibited electrooptic switching in different types of test cells. Textural observations and current response measurements showed the switching to be antiferroelectric in character.