Examination of the interlayer strength of smectic liquid crystals through the study of partially fluorinated and branched fluorinated end-groups

Through the incorporation of partially fluorinated and branched fluorinated end-groups of ferroelectric liquid crystals we aimed to examine the effects on physico-chemical structures and properties, and electrical switching behaviour for a family of compounds based upon the MHPOBC motif. We show that the nature of the terminal group strongly affects the liquid crystal behaviour and the thresholds associated with electro-optic switching. In this article we present the synthesis, transition temperatures, electro-optical measurements and X-ray diffraction studies for a series of compounds. © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2006.