Translational self-diffusion in the smectic phases of ferroelectric liquid crystals: An overview

In this work, we present our recent results obtained in the field of translational self-diffusion studies by means of H-1 NMR diffusometry in smectic phases formed by calamitic chiral liquid crystals. In particular, the diffusional behavior of chiral smectic phases with different clinicity, such as the ferroelectric and antiferroelectric phases, will be discussed on the basis of the results obtained on three different chiral smectogens. This research demonstrates that, despite previous assertions, out-of-plane translational diffusion in smectic phases is poorly affected by the clinicity of the phases, showing no discontinuity at the transition from synclinic to anticlinic structures, typical of the smectic C* phases. We can conclude that diffusion basically reflects the layered smectic structure where in-plane diffusion is much faster and less hindered than the out-of-plane one.