Nano-clustering mediates phase transitions in a diastereomerically-stabilized ferroelectric nematic system

Abstract

Abstract In recent years, ferroelectric nematic liquid crystals have attracted considerable attention owing to their unique properties such as a colossal polarization, high electro-optic activity, and high fluidity. However, despite large efforts in designing and developing new ferrofluid molecules based on molecular parameters, the control and stabilization of ferroelectric nematic phase transitions remain challenging. Here, we discuss the impact of mixing 1,3-dioxane-tethered fluorinated (DIO) diastereomer molecules, namely trans DIO and cis DIO, in controlling the ferroelectric nematic phase transition, using X-ray diffraction to investigate the effect of smectic cybotactic cluster formation. Our results show that the ferroelectric nematic phase transition can be tuned by a smooth exchange of the ferroelectric nematic trans DIO and non-liquid crystal cis DIO components, where the similar dipole and molecular backbone of the two components ensures a consistent macroscopic polarization of the diastereomeric-controlled ferroelectric nematic phase.