On the molecular organisation in the intercalated smectic A phases formed by the non-symmetric α-(4-cyanobiphenyl-4′-yloxy)-ω-(4-alkylanilinebenzylidene-4′-oxy)alkane dimers

Two structures have been proposed for the intercalated smectic phases formed by non-symmetric liquid crystal dimers in which different mesogenic groups are linked by a flexible spacer. In one structure the molecules adopt a U-shaped conformation which pack into layers. In the other the mesogenic groups are arranged in layers with the spacer connecting groups in different layers so creating a network. To distinguish between these organisations we have determined the time taken to align the director by a magnetic field. The relaxation time found for the intercalated phase is greater than for a conventional interdigitated phase which is consistent with a network.