Ferroelectric response in an achiral non-symmetric bent liquid crystal:C₁₂C₁₀

An achiral Non-Symmetric Bent Liquid Crystal (BLC) with a Oxadiazole based hetero cyclic central moiety, abbreviated as C₁₂C₁₀ viz., dodecyl[4-{5-(4′-decyloxy)biphenyl-4-yl}-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl]benzoate, exhibiting FerroElectric (FE) response is reported. Product is confirmed by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and elemental analysis. Characterization of BLC phases is carried out by Polarized Optical Microscopy (POM), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Spontaneous Polarization (P_S) and Low Frequency (10 Hz–10 MHz) Dielectric Relaxation studies. C₁₂C₁₀ exhibits enantiotropic LC SmA, FE B₂, SmG, SmE phase variance. I–SmA, B₂–SmG and SmG–SmE transitions are of first order nature. FE B₂ phases exhibits a moderate P_S of ∼80 nC cm⁻². B₂ phase exhibits Curie–Weiss behavior to confirm FE nature. Off-centered low frequency (KHz) dispersion infers a scissor mode and a high frequency (MHz) mode to reflect the distinct time-scale response. Dielectric Dispersion is relatively susceptible in lower frequency KHz region. Arrhenius shift in Relaxation Frequency (f_R) infers higher activation energy (E_a) in non-FE phases for HF mode and lower value for KHz mode. Trends of f_R, dielectric strength Δε, α-parameter and E_a are discussed in view of the data reported in other LC compounds