Electric-field-induced patterns in a hockey-stick nematic

The response to applied electric field of a newly synthesized hockey-stick nematic 8-F-OH has been stud-ied. Unusual pattern forming scenarios were found, which show rich variety as a function of frequency, temperature and initial director alignment. The behavior has been compared with those, observed in calamitic and bent-core nematics. Experiments show that contrary to calamitic nematics, here the elas-tically strongly deformed layers due to Freedericksz transition play a decisive role in the formation of reg-ular patterns. This is attributed to the cybotactic nematic phase with polar smectic clusters, where flexoelectricity might also have influence. Static and dynamic behaviors of the patterns have been char-acterized and an application idea is formulated.(c) 2022 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Automated summary

The study explores the response of a newly synthesized hockey-stick nematic 8-F-OH to applied electric field, revealing unusual pattern forming scenarios that vary with frequency, temperature, and initial director alignment. The behavior is compared with calamitic and bent-core nematics, highlighting the crucial role of elastically deformed layers in pattern formation, especially in the presence of polar smectic clusters.