Premium
Field‐Induced Formation of the Polar SmCP Phase above the SmCP–Isotropic Transition
Author(s) -
Weissflog W.,
Schröder M.W.,
Diele S.,
Pelzl G.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/adma.200304570
Subject(s) - isotropy , materials science , mesophase , polar , field (mathematics) , condensed matter physics , nucleation , phase transition , phase (matter) , mechanics , liquid crystal , physics , optics , thermodynamics , optoelectronics , mathematics , quantum mechanics , astronomy , pure mathematics
The field‐induced formation of an antiferroelectric “banana mesophase” (SmCP A ), which can be observed at up to 9 K above the transition SmCP → isotropic, is reported. This behavior may be due to the existence of ferroelectric clusters already in the isotropic liquid that are aligned by means of the external electric field. The Figure displays the field‐induced nucleation of the SmCP phase within the isotropic liquid.