Design, Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Ferro- and Antiferroelectric Liquid Crystals For Electro-Optical Applications

Dear Colleagues,

The design and synthesis of new functional materials is essential nowadays considering the explosive growth of technological applications that require compounds with suitable physical properties. In this regard, ferro- and antiferroelectric liquid crystals have developed important technical applications. Because the mesomorphic and physical properties vary with the structural moieties and their combinations, the strategies of synthesis affect the physical properties and consequently the uses of liquid crystals in various applications. Considering that minimal differences in the structures of compounds change their physical properties, a wide range of techniques to identify and characterise the liquid crystalline phases are required. Molecular simulations help to develop new products as well and accelerate liquid crystal research by theoretically characterizing mesogens and understanding the mesophase behavior. As the physical identification techniques are more advanced, new more ordered mesophases are likely to be discovered, which will lead to new applications.

This Special Issue of Crystals is addressed to all research scientists, including experimental chemists, physicists, and physical chemists, to report their results and findings in the synthesis of liquid crystal systems, with a particular focus on ferro- or antiferroelectric properties, physical characterisation techniques, structure–property relationship correlated with computational theory, and their potential applications in opto-electronic devices.

Dr. Irina Carlescu
Dr. Elena-Luiza Epure
Guest Editors

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