13C NMR Analysis of Molecular Motions of a Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal

Abstract
We report on the NMR observation of local molecular motions and microscopic environment of a ferroelectric liquid crystal, 4-(2-methyloctanoyl)phenyl 4'-nonylbiphenyl-4-carboxylate, obtained from variable-temperature solid-state 13C CP/MAS NMR analysis. Based on the analysis of NMR spectra and relaxation times, we show that the molecular motion of the asymmetric carbon does not change during the phase transition from SA to SC * and that the mobility of the polar group adjacent to the asymmetric carbon decreases remarkably during the phase transition.