Mesophase structure and behaviour in bulk and restricted geometry of a dimeric compound exhibiting a nematic–nematic transition

We present structural studies of a dimeric compound composed of a central heptyl spacer linking two mesogens consisting of terphenyl units at which two adjacent fluoro groups are attached to each central ring. The terminal rings are linked to pentyl chains as terminal groups. The material exhibits a nematic-nematic transition and a low temperature modulated phase. The higher temperature nematic phase was found to exhibit an anomaly of the bend elastic constant similar to that of the dimers with N-N-tb phase sequence, and the physical properties of the low-temperature nematic phase are similar to those of the known N-tb materials. The structure of the low-temperature modulated smectic/columnar phase is described together with its ability to form freely suspended films and fibres. The relation of the modulated structure to the fibre formation and to the appearance of the labyrinthine instability in freely-suspended films is discussed.Authors are specially grateful to Prof. O. D. Lavrentovich for stimulating discussions. This work was supported by the German Research Foundation (DFG ER 467/8), the US National Science Foundation (DMR No. 1307674) and the EPSRC projects EP/M015726 and EP/J004480. N. S thanks the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation for a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the Otto von Guericke University Magdebur