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arXiv · 2509.17633

Selective reflection of light in glassforming ternary liquid crystalline mixtures

Aleksandra Deptuch·Zuzanna Zając·Marcin Piwowarczyk·Anna Drzewicz·Marcin Kozieł·Magdalena Urbańska·Ewa Juszyńska-Gałązka
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Abstract

Two ternary liquid crystalline mixtures are formulated and investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, polarizing optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and broadband dielectric spectroscopy. Paraelectric smectic A*, ferroelectric smectic C*, and antiferroelectric smectic C$_A$* phases are detected. The glass of the smectic C$_A$* phase is formed at moderate cooling rates. Vitrification prevents the approaching transition to a hexatic smectic phase. One mixture shows a strong thermochromic effect in the smectic C$_A$* phase and selectively reflects blue light in the glassy state. Both mixtures reflect either green or red light in the smectic C* phase, depending on temperature treatment: whether the sample is cooled or heated, or at which rate the temperature changes.

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Aleksandra Deptuch, Zuzanna Zając, Marcin Piwowarczyk, Anna Drzewicz, Marcin Kozieł, Magdalena Urbańska, Ewa Juszyńska-Gałązka. 2025-09-22. Selective reflection of light in glassforming ternary liquid crystalline mixtures. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcb.6c01650

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