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Antiferroelectric behavior in a liquid crystalline polymer
Author(s) -
Skarp Kent,
Andersson Gunnar,
Gouda Fathi,
Lagerwall Sven T.,
Poths Holger,
Zentel Rudolf
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
polymers for advanced technologies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.61
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1099-1581
pISSN - 1042-7147
DOI - 10.1002/pat.1992.220030508
Subject(s) - antiferroelectricity , birefringence , materials science , ferroelectricity , liquid crystal , polymer , polarization (electrochemistry) , molar mass , side chain , phase transition , phase (matter) , condensed matter physics , optics , modulation (music) , chemical physics , optoelectronics , composite material , organic chemistry , chemistry , physics , acoustics , dielectric
Electro‐optic and polarization reversal measurements were performed on a side‐chain polymer exhibiting a chiral smectic phase. Based on the observed electro‐optic and current responses, we discuss the possibility of an antiferroelectric structure in the polymer. In order to establish a model for the observed behavior, a detailed comparison with the properties of the low molar mass antiferroelectric substance MHPOBC was made. The birefringence modulation in the chiral smectic polymer, originating from the field‐induced antiferroelectric‐to‐ferroelectric transition, is analyzed for the case of a randomly oriented sample. The result shows that the coincidence of birefringence modulation and polarization current peaks is strong evidence for the existence of antiferroelectric order in the smectic layers. Such coincidence was observed both for MHPOBC and the chiral side‐chain polyacrylate.