The Bent-Core Banana Phases

As you can imagine, when bent-core molecules pack together, a variety of different phases may form distinct from the more conventional calamitic phases formed from rod-like molecules. These different phases result from the additional complexity added to packing bent molecules instead 

FIGURE 2.18 Molecular structure of a historically important bent-core liquid crystal molecule synthesized by Vorlander. 

Bent-core liquid crystal materials are of particular interest because they exhibit some novel properties, including fast response to electric field and biaxiality (two distinct optical axes). An in-depth discussion of the bent-core liquid crystal phases is beyond the scope of this book and remains an active area of research for more details, see the further reading suggestions at the end of this chapter. 

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