A fluid liquid crystal with ferroelectric-like order

A calamitic liquid crystal composed of 1,3-dioxane and fluorinated aryl units exhibits a highly polar and fluid mesophase (MP phase). In the MP phase, anomalously large dielectric permittivity (ca. 104), ferroelectric-like polarization switching, and second harmonic generation (SHG) are observed. SHG interferometry also indicates the polarization inversion by reversing the applied electric field in the MP phase. These experimental data clearly show that in the MP phase, a unidirectional ferroelectric-like polar order exists along the director.