Abstract
Ionic (LCPEI-M) and nonionic (NI-LCP) thermotropic liquid-crystalline polymers were synthesized. Their thermal properties and orientational behavior were studied.
NI-LCP exhibited an enantiotropically nematic phase. On the other hand, LCPEI-M formed enantiotropically smectic phases because ammonium structural units function as a smectogen. Ammonium structural units in LCPEI-M were effective to enhance the thermal stability in the liquid-crystalline state. LCPEI-M formed spontaneously a homeotropic structure in the smectic phase.