Observation of Flexoelectricity in Mixtures of Calamitic and Bent-Core Liquid Crystals

Various low temperature nematic mixtures containing up to 8 wt% of sickle bent‐core‐calamitic 4‐((3‐(4‐(4‐(decyloxy)benzoyloxy)benzoyloxy)phenylimino)methyl)‐3‐hydroxyphenyl 4‐(6‐(4′‐cyanobiphenyl‐4‐yloxy)hexyloxy) benzoate (BCCB), possessing a positive dielectric anisotropy, were investigated. The ability of some calamitic nematics to host bent core was discussed and proved experimentally. For PAA/BCCB mixture, a considerable extension of the nematic temperature interval with a large difference at heating and cooling was observed. For 5CB/BCCB, a slight extension of the nematic temperature interval was also observed. The flexoelectric observations are based on electro‐optic investigations of in‐plane field driven distortions in homeotropic samples (the Helfrich method). The strength of the flexoelectricity in the mixtures was studied.