DOI

First results of investigations of electro-optical properties of liquid crystalline (LC) dendrimers in solution are presented. Measurements of electric birefringence (Kerr effect) and dielectric polarization of first generation carbosilane dendrimers with different ester linked terminal mesogenic groups (cholesteryl, cyanobiphenylyl and 4-methoxyphenyl benzoate) have been carried out using dilute solutions in CCl4. The results show that the dielectric polarization is proportional to the second power of the electric field in accordance with Kerr law. The Kerr constants calculated are close to those of the low molar mass analogues of the corresponding mesogenic groups. Thus the electric birefringence of the LC dendrimer solutions is mainly determined by the electro-optical properties of their terminal mesogenic groups oriented in the electric field independently of the main chain.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)475-479
Number of pages5
JournalLiquid Crystals
Volume25
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1998

    Scopus subject areas

  • Chemistry(all)
  • Materials Science(all)
  • Condensed Matter Physics

ID: 94258686