Abstract

We report on the synthesis and mesomorphic behaviour of a new series of non-symmetric liquid crystal dimers with long terminal chains containing 1,3,4-oxadiazole group and azobenzene group as the mesogenic units. These nonsymmetric liquid crystal dimers are evidenced to display monolayer smectic A phase. Microphase segregation and specific intermolecular interactions between the two different mesogenic units are the major driving forces for the formation of the monolayer smectic A structure.

Keywords: Azobenzene, intercalated structure, interdigitated structure, liquid crystal dimers, 1,3,4-oxadiazole, non-symmetric dimers, symmetric dimers, hydrogen, alkyl