STRUCTURE-PROPERTY RELATIONSHIPS IN DOPANT-INDUCED FERROELECTRIC LIQUID-CRYSTALS

Measurements are reported of the ferroelectric polarization P(S) induc ed in a non-chiral smectic C phase by a variety of chiral dopants havi ng different molecular structural features. Using molecular calculatio ns of contributing dipole moments, ferroelectric order parameters are determined from the experimental results. The relationships between th e P(S) and various other molecular properties are discussed, and it is shown that restricted rotation of the molecule due to its shape and i nternal energy barriers to rotation can result in relatively high valu es of P(S). In contrast dipolar groups flexibly attached to a chiral c entre may have their contribution to P(S) greatly reduced through inte rnal rotation.