Surface Anchoring Stabilized High Strength Disclinations in Smectic C Phase of a Schiff-base Liquid Crystal

【Abstract】 The observation of disclination cores of high strength S=-2, -3, -4, -5, -6, -7, -8 in a smectic C phase of Schiff-base type liquid crystal (LC) is reported. The results of polarizing optical microscope (POM), dif-ferential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) prove that the sample exhibits smectic C phase. It is suggested that the formation of the high strength disclination is mainly ascribed to the stronger anchoring of LC molecules on the substrate due to the formation of hydrogen bonds between the pendent hydroxyl of the LC molecule and the substrate.更多还原