Phase sequence in a smectic liquid crystal having f-atom in the core

Successive phase sequences of a new family of a chiral smectic liquid crystal 4-(1-methylhepthloxycarbonyl) 3-fluorophenyl 4'-dodecylbiphenyl-4-carboxylate have been investigated by dielectric measurement and optical transmittance hysteresis loop measurement. Two phases between antiferroelectric SmCA phase and ferroelectric SmC phase were confirmed and identified as a ferrielectric and an antiferroelectric phase, respectively. An electric field-temperature phase diagram was obtained from a measurement of temperature dependent dielectric constant under various electric bias fields. In the ferrielectric phase, the way how to apply the electric bias is very important, and it is concluded that, for the accurate measurement of the dielectric constant, ferrielectric D-E hysteresis phenomena should be taken into account.