Antiferroelectricity of a chiral smectic liquid crystal having three isolated phenyl rings in the core

Phase sequence and helicoidal structure of a chiral smectic liquid crystal and its binary mixtures with a well-known antiferroelectric liquid crystal MHPOBC were studied by dielectric electro-optic and circular dichroism meas urements. Structural difference between this material and MHPOBC is an este r group introduced into the biphenyl core. The fundamental phases of antife rroelectric liquid crystals, SmC* and SmCA*, do not appear in this pure mat erial, but, by doping a small amount of MHPOBC, SmCA* is stabilized in a wi de temperature range. This material may be categorized as a potential antif erroelectric liquid crystal.