Fig. 7: Schematic depiction of the interaction energy between successive molecules at adjacent z-elevations (strata) within an isolated column as a function of angle of rotation ϕ about the column axis.
From: A case of antiferrochirality in a liquid crystal phase of counter-rotating staircases
a For molecular rods one benzene ring wide (present case), b for disc-like or elongated aromatic platelet-like mesogens containing more than one ring in both x and y directions. The solid black line S(ϕ) is the sum of energies of attraction between the π-conjugated molecular cores A(ϕ) and the repulsion between alkyl end chains R(ϕ). For some actual examples of A(ϕ) see ref. 37. Yellow circles indicate global energy minima causing a small twist angle ϕ1 in rod-like and a larger twist angle ϕ2 in disc/platelet-like mesogens.
