Novel Phases Exhibiting Tristable Switching

Abstract

The phase, designated as Sm C A * , which shows tristable switching was investigated in C 8 H 17 O– - -COO– -COO * CH(CH 3 )C 6 H 13 (MHPOBC) by means of thermal analyses, a miscibility test and microscope observation. The phase transition from Sm C * to Sm C A * is not observable by AC calorimetry but small peaks comparable to the Sm A-Sm C * transition are discernible in DSC. According to the miscibility test of racemic MHPOBC with a standard compound, this new phase was found to exist between Sm C * and Sm I * and not to be miscible with Sm B hex . Therefore, the assignment of Sm C A * to one of the known phases is ruled out, which means that Sm C A * is a totally new phase. The difference between the pure enantiomer and the racemate is also pointed out.