Thermotropic Liquid Crystals

Since the early 1970s, thermotropic liquid crystals have played a central role in molecular electronics and display devices. The discovery of liquid crystal polymers has lead to the development of high tensile strength fibres, and new liquid crystal technologies hold promise for advances in several other areas, such as large area displays for word processors, computer terminals, and temperature-sensing devices. This volume is designed to encourage collaboration among physicists, organic chemists, electronic engineers, and other specialists in the physical sciences in order to facilitate research and development in this field. It provides thorough coverage of the subject by experts in various areas, including detailed treatments of the structure and organization in various liquid crystal phases; the relations between their strongly anisotropic properties and molecular structure; and clear insights into their applications and the underlying physics involved in each. Each chapter begins by examining fundamental concepts, introducing newcomers in the field to the associated terminology and providing a basic understanding of its multidisciplinary nature.

This book has been produced to assist those entering or new to the field of thermotropic liquid crystals to understand the essentially multi-disciplinary nature of the subject and the associated terminology.

Structural Classification of Liquid Crystals (A. Leadbetter).

Liquid Crystal Behaviour in Relation to Molecular Structure (K. Toyne).

Materials Requirements for Nematic and Chiral Nematic Electrooptical Displays (I. Sage).

Material Requirements for Smectic Liquid Crystal Displays (D. Coates).

Thermochromic Cholesteric Liquid Crystals (D. McDonnell).

Liquid Crystal Polymers (H. Finkelmann).

Index.