Biaxial-uniaxial transition in a self-assembled nematic liquid crystal by field-induced molecular conformation

A cylindrical uniaxial liquid crystal was hydrogen-bonded with a tripod-shaped molecule. As the molecular number ratio of cylindrical liquid crystal to tripod molecule converges to 2:1, display = 1/2 disclination defects, which are a necessary condition of biaxial nematic phase, appeared predominantly. After the application of an electric field, the display = 1/2 disclinations converted to display = 1 disclinations which imply a transition from a biaxial to uniaxial state. IR dichroism measurements support the hypothesis that the liquid crystal-tripod molecule complex undergoes a molecular conformation change from bent shape to parallel shape, and this conformation change is thought to be related to a field-induced biaxial-uniaxial transition.