We report the experimental results on pure fluorinated bent-shaped mesogens showing very unusual textures and electro-optical behavior. In the view of recent publications such behavior can be explained by triclinic symmetry of the mesophase $(\mathrm{Sm}-C_G)$ formed by these compounds. Based on the results of the x-ray diffraction and electro-optical investigations, we give evidence for the $\mathrm{Sm}-C_G$ $\to \mathrm{Sm}-\mathrm{CP}$ polymorphism.

• Received 27 June 2002

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.67.021702