Emerging polymer ferroelectrics with liquid crystalline order

For liquid crystals (LCs) and liquid crystalline polymers (LCPs), a chiral smectic C (SmC*) phase has been mandatory for breaking the symmetry and achieving ferroelectricity. However, this SmC* phase leads to rather low spontaneous polarization (Ps, 0.1–5 mC/m2), which has limited their usage in var...

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Main Authors: Jiahao Huang, Man-Hin Kwok, Bin Zhao, Lei Zhu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-06-01
Series:Giant
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666542524000225
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author Jiahao Huang
Man-Hin Kwok
Bin Zhao
Lei Zhu
author_facet Jiahao Huang
Man-Hin Kwok
Bin Zhao
Lei Zhu
author_sort Jiahao Huang
collection DOAJ
description For liquid crystals (LCs) and liquid crystalline polymers (LCPs), a chiral smectic C (SmC*) phase has been mandatory for breaking the symmetry and achieving ferroelectricity. However, this SmC* phase leads to rather low spontaneous polarization (Ps, 0.1–5 mC/m2), which has limited their usage in various electronic and electro-optical applications. In this mini-review, we highlight three new types of ferroelectric LCPs with high Ps values reported in the last decade. The first system refers to the ferroelectric nematic LCs and LCPs. The large dipole moment (>9 Debye or D) and oblique molecular shape induce a polar packing of calamitic nematics. The Ps can reach as high as 40 mC/m2. The second example is a ferroelectric supramolecular LCP, in which the highly polar cyano groups in the core lead to a polar structure of the hexagonal columnar phase after electric poling. The Ps can reach ∼ 20 mC/m2. The third system utilizes highly dipolar sulfonyl groups (dipole moment ∼4.5 D) in the side chains of mesogen-free comb-shaped LCPs. By combining finely tuned dipolar interactions and mobile LC order, these mesogen-free comb-like LCPs have shown good potential for ferroelectricity with high Ps. These ferroelectric LCPs with high Ps will enable new electronic and electro-optical applications in the future.
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spelling doaj.art-51072245d92745e6b5830dfa588b1b102024-04-12T04:46:03ZengElsevierGiant2666-54252024-06-0118100257Emerging polymer ferroelectrics with liquid crystalline orderJiahao Huang0Man-Hin Kwok1Bin Zhao2Lei Zhu3Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering and Department of Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106-7202, United States; Corresponding authors.Department of Chemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, PR ChinaDepartment of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United StatesDepartment of Macromolecular Science and Engineering and Department of Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106-7202, United States; Corresponding authors.For liquid crystals (LCs) and liquid crystalline polymers (LCPs), a chiral smectic C (SmC*) phase has been mandatory for breaking the symmetry and achieving ferroelectricity. However, this SmC* phase leads to rather low spontaneous polarization (Ps, 0.1–5 mC/m2), which has limited their usage in various electronic and electro-optical applications. In this mini-review, we highlight three new types of ferroelectric LCPs with high Ps values reported in the last decade. The first system refers to the ferroelectric nematic LCs and LCPs. The large dipole moment (>9 Debye or D) and oblique molecular shape induce a polar packing of calamitic nematics. The Ps can reach as high as 40 mC/m2. The second example is a ferroelectric supramolecular LCP, in which the highly polar cyano groups in the core lead to a polar structure of the hexagonal columnar phase after electric poling. The Ps can reach ∼ 20 mC/m2. The third system utilizes highly dipolar sulfonyl groups (dipole moment ∼4.5 D) in the side chains of mesogen-free comb-shaped LCPs. By combining finely tuned dipolar interactions and mobile LC order, these mesogen-free comb-like LCPs have shown good potential for ferroelectricity with high Ps. These ferroelectric LCPs with high Ps will enable new electronic and electro-optical applications in the future.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666542524000225FerroelectricsLiquid crystalline polymersFerroelectric polymers
spellingShingle Jiahao Huang
Man-Hin Kwok
Bin Zhao
Lei Zhu
Emerging polymer ferroelectrics with liquid crystalline order
Giant
Ferroelectrics
Liquid crystalline polymers
Ferroelectric polymers
title Emerging polymer ferroelectrics with liquid crystalline order
title_full Emerging polymer ferroelectrics with liquid crystalline order
title_fullStr Emerging polymer ferroelectrics with liquid crystalline order
title_full_unstemmed Emerging polymer ferroelectrics with liquid crystalline order
title_short Emerging polymer ferroelectrics with liquid crystalline order
title_sort emerging polymer ferroelectrics with liquid crystalline order
topic Ferroelectrics
Liquid crystalline polymers
Ferroelectric polymers
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666542524000225
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AT manhinkwok emergingpolymerferroelectricswithliquidcrystallineorder
AT binzhao emergingpolymerferroelectricswithliquidcrystallineorder
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