Influence of flexibility on the biaxial nematic phase of bent core liquid crystals: A Monte Carlo simulation study

Martin A. Bates

doi:10.1103/PhysRevE.74.061702

Influence of flexibility on the biaxial nematic phase of bent core liquid crystals: A Monte Carlo simulation study

Martin A. Bates

Chemistry

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The influence of flexibility on the phase behavior of bent core biaxial nematic liquid crystals is investigated using Monte Carlo simulation. A generic model for rigid V-shaped molecules is extended to include a bending potential, which allows us to investigate the relationship between the flexibility of a bent core molecule and its ability to form a biaxial nematic phase. The simulation results indicate that, as the flexibility is increased, the biaxial nematic phase is typically forced to lower temperatures. In contrast, the stability of the uniaxial nematic phase with respect to the isotropic phase is not significantly affected. The Landau point is split into a line of first order phase transitions between two different uniaxial phases. In some cases, the uniaxial nematic to biaxial nematic transition becomes first order, and a shape change is observed at this transition.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	-
Number of pages	11
Journal	Physical Review E
Volume	74
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.74.061702
Publication status	Published - Dec 2006

Keywords

MESOGENS

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10.1103/PhysRevE.74.061702

Cite this

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title = "Influence of flexibility on the biaxial nematic phase of bent core liquid crystals: A Monte Carlo simulation study",

abstract = "The influence of flexibility on the phase behavior of bent core biaxial nematic liquid crystals is investigated using Monte Carlo simulation. A generic model for rigid V-shaped molecules is extended to include a bending potential, which allows us to investigate the relationship between the flexibility of a bent core molecule and its ability to form a biaxial nematic phase. The simulation results indicate that, as the flexibility is increased, the biaxial nematic phase is typically forced to lower temperatures. In contrast, the stability of the uniaxial nematic phase with respect to the isotropic phase is not significantly affected. The Landau point is split into a line of first order phase transitions between two different uniaxial phases. In some cases, the uniaxial nematic to biaxial nematic transition becomes first order, and a shape change is observed at this transition.",

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