Electric-field response of discotic hexabenzocoronene (HBC) liquid crystals

Abstract

A HBC derivative bearing six branched, space-demanding, alkyl side chains containing ether linkages has been synthesized and its thermotropic properties were investigated by polarization optical microscopy (POM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). To our surprise, this molecule can respond to electric fields, and the influences of alternating current (AC) and directing current (DC) electric field on the assembly of this molecule in liquid crystal cells were discusse. © 2011 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.