Fluid fibers in true 3D ferroelectric liquids.

We demonstrate an exceptional ability of a high-polarization 3D ferroelectric liquid to form freely suspended fluid fibers at room temperature. Unlike fluid threads in modulated smectics and columnar phases, where translational order is a prerequisite for forming liquid fibers, recently discovered ferroelectric nematic forms fibers with solely orientational molecular order. Additional stabilization mechanisms based on the polar nature of the mesophase are required for this. We propose a model for such a mechanism and show that these fibers demonstrate an exceptional nonlinear optical response and exhibit electric field-driven instabilities.

Polarity in Liquid Crystals Formed by Self-Assembled Umbrella-Shaped Subphthalocyanine Mesogens.

We investigated the properties of p-type semiconducting columnar phases in self-assembled umbrella-shaped mesogens that have subphthalocyanine cores and oligo-thienyl arms. These compounds have nonswitchable phases that exhibit remanent electric polarization and nonlinear optical activity. Additionally, these compounds can generate photocurrents in the visible spectral range due to their wide absorption band. The photocurrent can be significantly increased by doping materials with fullerene. The charge mobility shows an anomalous field dependence, which decreases with the temperature.