Compounds in the liquid crystalline phase can be reoriented upon application of an electric field which changes their optical properties. This makes them useful for display applications found in phones, computer screens, televisions, etc. In 2009, a 1,2,4-oxadiazole-based liquid crystal compound was shown to demonstrate ferroelectric switching, which is switching on the order microseconds rather than milliseconds. While 1,2,4-oxadiazole-based liquid crystals demonstrate this behavior, the more widely studied 1,3,4-oxadiazole-based liquid crystals have not yet shown ferroelectric behavior. Recent work in the Scharrer lab has focused on creating 1,3,4-oxadiazole-based derivatives containing strongly polar lateral groups, which may mimic the electro-optic behavior found in the 1,2,4-oxadiazole derivatives. The derivatives that will be described in this presentation contain a lateral nitro group. Another goal of this project is to lower the phase transition temperatures of these compounds. This has been achieved by incorporating additional lateral methyl groups at various positions. Details of synthetic efforts as well as the phase behavior will be described.

Exploring the effects of a nitro group and lateral methyl groups on the phase behavior of 1-3-4-oxadiazole-based liquid crystals

255th National Meeting (2018)

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