Novel Ferroelectric Liquid Crystals with Very Large Spontaneous Polarization

Several ferroelectric liquid crystals derived from a new optically active (2S, 5R)-2-hydroxy-5-hexyl-δ-valerolactone have been synthesized, and their mesomorphic and ferroelectric properties have been investigated. Very large spontaneous polarization (Ps) has been observed in these compounds, one of which shows an extremly large Ps value: as high as 320 nC/cm2.