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DOI	10.1073/pnas.2002290117
	First-principles experimental demonstration of ferroelectricity in a thermotropic nematic liquid crystal: Polar domains and striking electro-optics
	Chen X.; Chen X.; Korblova E.; Korblova E.; Dong D.; Dong D.; Wei X.; Wei X.; Shao R.; Shao R.; Radzihovsky L.; Radzihovsky L.; Glaser M.A.; Glaser M.A.; MacLennan J.E.; MacLennan J.E.; Bedrov D.; Bedrov D.; Walba D.M.; Walba D.M.; Clark N.A.; Clark N.A.
发表日期	2020
ISSN	0027-8424
起始页码	14021
结束页码	14031
卷号	117 期号:25
英文摘要	We report the experimental determination of the structure and response to applied electric field of the lower-temperature nematic phase of the previously reported calamitic compound 4-[(4-nitrophenoxy) carbonyl]phenyl2,4-dimethoxybenzoate (RM734). We exploit its electro-optics to visualize the appearance, in the absence of applied field, of a permanent electric polarization density, manifested as a spontaneously broken symmetry in distinct domains of opposite polar orientation. Polarization reversal is mediated by field-induced domain wall movement,making this phase ferroelectric, a 3D uniaxial nematic having a spontaneous, reorientable polarization locally parallel to the director. This polarization density saturates at a low temperature value of ~6 μC/cm2, the largest ever measured for a fluid or glassy material. This polarization is comparable to that of solid state ferroelectrics and is close to the average value obtained by assuming perfect, polar alignment of molecular dipoles in the nematic. We find a host of spectacular optical and hydrodynamic effects driven by ultralow applied field (E ~ 1 V/cm), produced by the coupling of the large polarization to nematic birefringence and flow. Electrostatic selfinteraction of the polarization charge renders the transition from the nematic phase mean field-like and weakly first order and controls the director field structure of the ferroelectric phase. Atomistic molecular dynamics simulation reveals short-range polar molecular interactions that favor ferroelectric ordering, including a tendency for head-to-tail association into polar, chain-like assemblies having polar lateral correlations. These results indicate a significant potential for transformative, new nematic physics, chemistry, and applications based on the enhanced understanding, development, and exploitation of molecular electrostatic interaction. © 2020 National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
英文关键词	Ferroelectric; Liquid; Liquid crystal; Nematic; Polar
语种	英语
scopus关键词	Article; birefringence; chemical structure; correlational study; dipole; electric field; electricity; hydrodynamics; liquid crystal; low temperature; molecular dynamics; molecular interaction; optics; polarization; priority journal; solid state; static electricity; temperature measurement
来源期刊	Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
文献类型	期刊论文
条目标识符	http://gcip.llas.ac.cn/handle/2XKMVOVA/160278
作者单位	Chen, X., Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, United States; Chen, X., Soft Materials Research Center, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, United States; Korblova, E., Soft Materials Research Center, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, United States, Department of Chemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, United States; Korblova, E., Soft Materials Research Center, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, United States, Department of Chemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, United States; Dong, D., Soft Materials Research Center, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, United States; Dong, D., Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, United States; Wei, X., Soft Materials Research Center, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, United States; Wei, X., Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, United States; Shao, R...
推荐引用方式 GB/T 7714	Chen X.,Chen X.,Korblova E.,et al. First-principles experimental demonstration of ferroelectricity in a thermotropic nematic liquid crystal: Polar domains and striking electro-optics[J],2020,117(25).
APA	Chen X..,Chen X..,Korblova E..,Korblova E..,Dong D..,...&Clark N.A..(2020).First-principles experimental demonstration of ferroelectricity in a thermotropic nematic liquid crystal: Polar domains and striking electro-optics.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America,117(25).
MLA	Chen X.,et al."First-principles experimental demonstration of ferroelectricity in a thermotropic nematic liquid crystal: Polar domains and striking electro-optics".Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 117.25(2020).