Molecular dynamics and the glass transition in a columnar liquid crystal formed by a chiral discotic mesogen

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Abstract
A new type of chiral discotic liquid crystal is described. It is based on a triphenylene core but carries only one asymmetric side chain per mesogen. This system displays a columnar liquid-crystalline mesophase with a helical superstructure and a pitch of 3·0 nm over a temperature range of 227 K. Upon cooling it forms a glassy state. By broadband dielectric and 2H NMR spectroscopy two motional processes are detected. The axial rotation of the discs around the column axis exhibits non-Arrhenius behaviour and is directly related to the glass transition. The second process is ascribed to localized side chain motions involving the ester linkages.