Successive Phase Transitions in Antiferroelectric Liquid Crystal 4-(1-methylheptyloxycarbonyl)phenyl 4'-octylcarbonyloxybiphenyl-4-carboxylate (MHPOCBC)

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Abstract
A new antiferroelectric liquid crystal (AFLC), 4-(1-methylheptyloxycarbonyl)phenyl 4'-octylcarbonyloxybiphenyl-4-carboxylate (MHPOCBC), was synthesized and an unidentified phase (designated as SmCx) was observed between the paraelectric SmA phase and the antiferroelectric SmCA * phase by means of thermal, dielectric and electrooptical measurements. Thermal and dielectric studies suggest that the SmA-SmCx phase transition is of the second order and the SmCx-SmCA * phase transition is of the first order. Two types of electrooptical responses were observed in the SmCx phase: at relatively high temperatures the tristable switching appeared and at low temperatures tetrastables switching was noted. These features are discussed in terms of field-induced transitions.