Probing the effect of temperature and electric field on the low frequency dielectric relaxation in a ferroelectric liquid crystal mesogen

We present the characterization and dielectric spectroscopic investigations of a ferroelectric liquid crystal (PLC) material, namely KCFLC 10S. We experimentally demonstrate the observation of a low frequency dielectric relaxation mode along with Goldstone mode in the smectic C* phase of the FLC material under investigation. The behavior of low frequency dielectric relaxation mode has been systematically studied with temperature and applied bias field. The relaxation frequency of the low frequency dielectric relaxation has been found to be shifted toward the higher frequency side with an increase in temperature and field strength. This shift has been attributed to the single particle diffusion of fast ions. Further investigations on electrical conductivity (a) with frequency at different electric field strengths revealed a Schottky-type of charge injection at electrode even under a small DC bias. The studies carried out in the present paper would be helpful to provide ideas for designing and developing advanced liquid crystal materials. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.