Liquid Crystals

Liquid crystals (LCs) are highly structured liquids, with orientational (nematic, cholesteric) and positional (smectic) order of constituent molecules (see figure). The type of molecular order is controlled by shape and chirality of LC molecules, with over a hundred known LC phases. Because LCs are liquids, their molecular order is sensitive to environment, e.g. temperature, electric and magnetic fields, or adsorption of chemicals. Molecular alignment in LC films results in optical properties (e.g. refractive index, reflectivity, transmission) that can vary with wavelength (color) and polarization of incident light. The two key attributes of LCs - liquid-like behavior and optical anisotropy - drive the majority of LC applications to switchable displays and optoelectronic devices.

We offer many well-defined nematic, cholecteric, and smectic molecular liquid crystals, as well as a discotic and several polymeric LC materials. In addition, we offer a selection of LC mesogens - molecular blocks known to have liquid crystalline order. LC building blocks are synthons commonly used to make LC molecules. To view the products filtered by your area of research interest, click on the "Material Type" heading in the first column and select from the drop down menu. For more specific product details, click on the Product # links.

Schematic representation of molecular order in common liquid crystal materials

Building block - (24)

Cholesteric - (13)

LC Mesogen - (11)

Polymer LC - (3)

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1,2-Dihexyloxybenzene 98%

Building block

1-Dodecylpyridinium chloride hydrate 98%

Building block

4′-Bromomethyl-2-biphenylcarbonitrile 97%

Building block

4′-Hydroxy-4-biphenylcarbonitrile 97%

Building block

4′-Methyl-2-biphenylcarbonitrile 98%

Building block

4-(Dodecyloxy)benzoic acid 98%

Building block

4-(Nonyloxy)benzoic acid 97%

Building block

4-(Octyloxy)benzoic acid 98%

Building block

4-(Pentyloxy)benzoic acid 99%

Building block

4-Butoxybenzoic acid 98%

Building block

4-Butylbenzoic acid 99%

Building block

4-Chlorophenyl benzoate 99%

Building block

4-Cyanobenzoic acid 99%

Building block

4-Ethoxybenzoic acid 99%

Building block

4-Heptylbenzoic acid 97%

Building block

4-Hexylbenzoic acid liquid crystal, 99%

Building block

4-Octylbenzoic acid 99%

Building block

4-Pentylbenzoic acid 99%

Building block

4-Phenylbenzonitrile 95%

Building block

4-Propoxybenzoic acid 98%

Building block

6-[4-(4-Cyanophenyl)phenoxy]hexyl methacrylate 98%

Building block

Phenyl 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoate 99%

Building block

Phenyl salicylate 99%

Building block

Resorcinol monobenzoate 97%

Building block

Cholesteryl acetate 95%

Cholesteric

Cholesteryl benzoate 98%

Cholesteric

Cholesteryl caprylate technical grade, 90%

Cholesteric

Cholesteryl chloride 97%

Cholesteric

Cholesteryl chloroformate 97%

Cholesteric

Cholesteryl hemisuccinate

Cholesteric

Cholesteryl hydrocinnamate 97%

Cholesteric

Cholesteryl oleate ≥98% (HPLC; detection at 205 nm)

Cholesteric

Cholesteryl oleate technical grade

Cholesteric

Cholesteryl oleyl carbonate

Cholesteric

Cholesteryl palmitate ≥98% (HPLC; detection at 205 nm)

Cholesteric

Cholesteryl palmitate 97%

Cholesteric

Cholesteryl pelargonate 97%

Cholesteric

2,3,6,7,10,11-Hexamethoxytriphenylene 99%

Discotic

(R)-4-[(1-Methylheptyloxy)carbonyl]phenyl 4′-octyloxy-4-biphenylcarboxylate 98%

LC Mesogen

(S)-(+)-4′-(2-Methylbutoxy)-4-biphenylcarbonitrile 98%

LC Mesogen

(S)-4-[(1-Methylheptyloxy)carbonyl]phenyl 4′-octyloxy-4-biphenylcarboxylate 99%

LC Mesogen

1-(4-trans-Hexylcyclohexyl)-4-[2-(4-isothiocyanatophenyl)ethyl]benzene 98%

LC Mesogen

1-[4-(trans-4-Heptylcyclohexyl)phenyl]-2-[trans-4-(4-isothiocyanatophenyl)cyclohexyl]ethane 99%

LC Mesogen

4-Hexyl-4′-[2-(4-isothiocyanatophenyl)ethyl]-1,1′-biphenyl 99%

LC Mesogen

4-Pentylphenyl 4-(octyloxy)benzoate 97%

LC Mesogen

4-Pentylphenyl 4-methoxybenzoate 97%

LC Mesogen

4-Pentylphenyl 4-methylbenzoate 97%

LC Mesogen

4-Pentylphenyl 4-pentylbenzoate 97%

LC Mesogen

4-Pentylphenyl 4-propylbenzoate 97%

LC Mesogen

1-(trans-4-Hexylcyclohexyl)-4-isothiocyanatobenzene liquid crystal (nematic), 99%

Nematic

1-Isothiocyanato-4-(trans-4-octylcyclohexyl)benzene liquid crystal (nematic), 99%

Nematic

1-Isothiocyanato-4-(trans-4-propylcyclohexyl)benzene liquid crystal (nematic), 99%

Nematic

4′-(Heptyloxy)-4-biphenylcarbonitrile liquid crystal (nematic), 97%

Nematic

4′-(Hexyloxy)-4-biphenylcarbonitrile liquid crystal (nematic), 96%

Nematic

4′-(Octyloxy)-4-biphenylcarbonitrile liquid crystal (nematic)

Nematic

4′-(Pentyloxy)-4-biphenylcarbonitrile liquid crystal (nematic), 99%

Nematic

4′-Heptyl-4-biphenylcarbonitrile 98%

Nematic

4′-Hexyl-4-biphenylcarbonitrile liquid crystal (nematic), 98%

Nematic

4′-Octyl-4-biphenylcarbonitrile liquid crystal (nematic), 98%

Nematic

4′-Pentyl-4-biphenylcarbonitrile liquid crystal (nematic), 98%

Nematic

4,4′-Azoxyanisole 98%

Nematic

4,4′-Azoxyanisole-d₁₄ 96 atom % D

Nematic

4,4′-Diazido-2,2′-stilbenedisulfonic acid disodium salt tetrahydrate ≥99.0%

Nematic

4,4′-Diheptylazoxybenzene liquid crystal (nematic)

Nematic

4,4′-Dipentylazoxybenzene liquid crystal (nematic), 95%

Nematic

4-(trans-4-Pentylcyclohexyl)benzonitrile 99%, liquid crystal (nematic)

Nematic

4-Isothiocyanatophenyl 4-pentylbicyclo[2.2.2]octane-1-carboxylate liquid crystal (nematic), 99%

Nematic

4-Methoxycinnamic acid, predominantly trans 99%

Nematic

N-(4-Ethoxybenzylidene)-4-butylaniline 98%

Nematic

N-(4-Methoxybenzylidene)-4-butylaniline 98%

Nematic

Poly(4-hydroxy benzoic acid-co-ethylene terephthalate) 80 mol % in 4-hydroxybenzoic acid

Polymer LC

Poly(4-hydroxy benzoic acid-co-ethylene terephthalate) 60 mol % in 4-hydroxybenzoic acid

Polymer LC

Poly[6-[4-(4-cyanophenyl)phenoxy]hexyl methacrylate] average M_n ~20,000

Polymer LC

1,4-Bis(decyloxy)benzene 98%

Smectic

4-(Decyloxy)benzoic acid 98%

Smectic

4-(Heptyloxy)benzoic acid 98%

Smectic

4-(Undecyloxy)benzoic acid 98%

Smectic

4-[(S,S)-2,3-Epoxyhexyloxy]phenyl 4-(decyloxy)benzoate 98%

Smectic

Cholesteryl stearate 96%

Smectic

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