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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/N28245/01
Title: FAST SWITCHING FERROELECTRIC AND ANTIFERROELECTRIC LIQUID CRYSTALS FOR DISPLAYS AND PHOTONIC DEVICES
Principal Investigator: Goodby, Professor JW
Other Investigators:
Hird, Dr M Mehl, Professor G Toyne, Professor K
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Defence Science and Technology Laborator
Department: Chemistry
Organisation: University of Hull
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 June 2000 Ends: 31 October 2003 Value (£): 169,255
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Materials Synthesis & Growth
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Electronics
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
The work of Professor Coles of Southampton University, along with our own studies have shown that, through the manipulation of the structures associated with the terminal positions in the aliphatic chains of calamitic liquid crystals, melting points can be relatively and substantially lowered and mesophase formation can be controlled. This technique employs microphase segregation of the chemically dissimilar segments of the structures of the molecules, such that the like parts pack together in quasi-layers. The chemical nature of the moiety associated with the terminal position can, in effect, be used to determine the structure and phase classification of the mesophase produced. A judicious choice of the terminal moiety, coupled with a suitable asymmetric centre, can be employed, almost at will, to create systems that exhibit ferroelectric or antiferroelectric mesophases. In addition, the process of microphase segregation has the effect of suppressing melting points and introducing glassy phases, thereby inducing wide temperature ranges for the existence of the liquid crystal state. This molecular design technique is relatively unexplored, except for silyloxy systems, in either commercial or research liquid crystals. It is thus, a new and powerful design technique that will have many important implications for the field in years to come.
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Organisation Website: http://www.hull.ac.uk