Universality of Molten State of Alkyl Chain in Liquid-Crystalline Mesophases : Smectic E Phase of 6-Alkyl-2-phenylazulene

Through thermodynamic, spectroscopic, and structural studies, the molten state of the alkyl chain in SmE phase, which is the liquid-crystalline mesophase closest to an ordered crystalline phase, has been established in a calamitic mesogen nPA. Combining the same conclusion for the SmE phase of another calamitic mesogen nTCB, it is concluded that the alkyl chain attached at end(s) of a rod-like core is molten in any liquid-crystalline mesophase. The thermodynamic implications are briefly discussed.