Abstract
We have synthesized liquid crystal (LC) mesogens based on a nonlinear oxadiazole unit that exhibit nematic phases near . Polarized microscopy and conoscopy indicate that these LCs are biaxial nematics. Unambiguous and quantitative evidence for biaxiality is achieved using NMR spectroscopy. “2D powder” spectra, obtained by rotating -labeled samples about an axis perpendicular to the magnetic field at , yield phase biaxiality parameters of when coupled with rigorous and proven simulations.
- Received 14 July 2003
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.92.145505
©2004 American Physical Society