Viscoelastic properties of a branched liquid crystal in the nematic phase

We report results from a comprehensive suite of measurements, including small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), polarising optical microscopy, dynamic light scattering, elastic properties and dielectric and diamagnetic susceptibilities on macroscopic liquid crystalline properties of branched compound, 2-(octyloxycarbonyl)-1, 4-phenylene bis(4-(octyloxy)benzoate). SAXS studies reveal very distinct, although short-range smectic-C-type clusters, leading to increased viscosities, very similar to that been reported in many bent-core compounds. The measured elastic constants and their relative values are similar to calamitic liquid crystals, presumably because the clusters are not polar, unlike in bent-core liquid crystals, which (together with the director tilt) result in a layer chirality.