On the structure of the Nx phase of symmetric dimers

Anke Hoffmann; Alexandros G. Vanakaras; Alexandra Kohlmeier; Georg H. Mehl; Demetri J. Photinos

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arXiv · 1401.5445

On the structure of the Nx phase of symmetric dimers

Anke Hoffmann·Alexandros G. Vanakaras·Alexandra Kohlmeier·Georg H. Mehl·Demetri J. Photinos

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Abstract

NMR measurements on a selectively deuteriated liquid crystal dimer CB-C9-CB exhibiting two nematic phases show that the molecules in the lower temperature nematic phase, Nx, experience a chiral environment and are ordered about a unique direction. The results are contrasted with previous reports that proposed a twist-bend spatial variation of the director. A structural model is proposed wherein the molecules show organization into highly correlated assemblies of opposite chirality.

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Anke Hoffmann, Alexandros G. Vanakaras, Alexandra Kohlmeier, Georg H. Mehl, Demetri J. Photinos. 2014-07-07. On the structure of the Nx phase of symmetric dimers. https://arxiv.org/abs/1401.5445

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