Optical and structural properties of new discotic acrylates polymerized in the discotic nematic phase

Discotic liquid crystals can be used as optical compensation layers to improve the viewing angle of twisted nematic liquid crystal displays, for example. The in situ photopolymerization of newly synthesized acrylates is shown to result in oriented films with a negative birefringence. The transition temperatures, birefringence, and thermal stability were measured and the structure of the polymers was determined by wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction in order to explain the difference in optical properteis between various polymers.