Antiferroelectric Order in Nematic Liquids: Flexoelectricity Versus Electrostatics.

ABSTRACT: The recent discovery of ferroelectric nematic liquid crystalline phases marks a major breakthrough in soft matter research. An intermediate phase, often observed between the nonpolar and the ferroelectric nematic phase, shows a distinct antiferroelectric response to electric fields. However, its structure and formation mechanisms remain debated, with flexoelectric and electrostatics effects proposed as competing mechanisms. By controlling the magnitude of electrostatic forces through ion addition in two representative ferroelectric nematic materials, it is shown that the primary mechanism for the emergence of antiferroelectric order is the flexoelectric coupling between electric polarization and splay deformation of the nematic director. The addition of ions significantly expands the tempe

SUBMITTER: Medle Rupnik P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11884549 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature