Physical properties of hydrogen bonded nematic liquid crystals and electro-optical properties in terahertz waves [Invited]

Abstract

4-m-alkyl cyclohexane carboxylic acids and 4-n-alkylbenzoic acids were mixed to form hydrogen bonded liquid crystals (HBLCs), which exhibited a nematic phase at room temperature. Dielectric constants and three elastic constants of HBLC mixtures were investigated. Benzoic acid derivatives with some polar groups were added to the HBLC and the dielectric anisotropy was successfully enhanced. Considering the absorption loss of HBLCs in the terahertz wave region, the electro-optical properties of the homogeneous and twisted nematic cells were numerically evaluated using measured physical properties, and the transmitted polarization state was compared with that of conventional nematic LCs.