Earlier response of carbonyl groups in electric-field-induced dynamics of a ferroelectric liquid crystal with a naphthalene ring studied by submicrosecond multichannel asynchronous time-resolved FT-IR spectroscopy

By use of submicrosecond multichannel asynchronous time-resolved FT-IR spec troscopy, we have investigated a time-dependent response of different molec ular segments during dynamical switching in the electric-field-induced phas e of a ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) with a naphthalene ring (FLC-1). From measurements of temporal response of absorption changes of infrared (I R) bands at different time delays, we demonstrate that two carbonyl groups of FLC-1 respond first on switching the electric field and then the alkyl c hain and the mesogen follow.