Ferroelectric lyo-mesophase of banana-shaped molecules

Preliminary results are reported on the first ferroelectric 'lyo-mesophases ' of banana-shaped molecules. We studied the effect of the non-polar solven ts p-xylene and m-xylene on the macroscopic properties of banana-shaped mol ecules having a B-7 phase. It was observed that by adding only 15% of solve nt the isotropic-B-7 transition temperature was lowered from 130 degreesC t o 70 degreesC and the ferroelectric electro-optical switching range was ext ended from 1-2 degreesC to more than 50 degrees C, thus maintaining the swi tching even at room temperature. The xylene molecules act as spacers, maint aining larger separations between the banana-molecules, thus reducing the p olar packing order. These observations provide unique opportunities for tun ing the intermolecular interactions of banana-shaped molecules and modifyin g their macroscopic properties.