ELECTROOPTICAL PROPERTIES OF FERROELECTRIC LIQUID-CRYSTALS WITH A SULFINATE GROUP AS UNIQUE SOURCE OF CHIRALITY

In this communication, are present the first electro-optical measureme nts performed on ferroelectric liquid crystals materials based on mole cules containing a sulfinate group as the unique chiral source. Sponta neous polarization, response time to the applied electric field and ti lt angle of the molecules as a function of temperature are reported fo r two representative molecules of the whole series. It is also shown t he existence of a significant electroclinic effect in the smectic A ph ase.