Ferroelectricity in achiral liquid-crystal systems

Abstract

Ferroelectricity can be defected in systems consisting of liquid-crystal line monomer-polymer mixtures possessing no chiral centers The ferroelectric behavior in mixtures of achiral liquid-crystalline side-chain polymers and achiral liquid-crystalline monomers is reported for the first time. ne mixtures high pyroelectric activity, with values of spontaneous polarization close to the theoretical limit and a "figure of merit" comparable to the value of classic ferroelectric materials.