Examples of these materials include methoxy-benzilidene butylanaline and fluorinated tolans.  The Onsager model can be used to explain lyotrophic examples, which undergo phase transitions as a result of concentration changes rather than temperature.  Cholesteric varieties, which induce circular dichroism, exhibit chirality and are sometimes known as twisted nematic.  In the typical nematic phase, their molecules have a random distribution but preferred orientation, while their smectic phase displays an ordered layered structure.  In their most famous application, a thi
Examples of these materials include methoxy-benzilidene butylanaline and fluorinated tolans.  The Onsager model can be used to explain lyotrophic examples, which undergo phase transitions as a result of concentration changes rather than temperature.  Cholesteric varieties, which induce circular dichroism, exhibit chirality and are sometimes known as twisted nematic.  In the typical nematic phase, their molecules have a random distribution but preferred orientation, while their smectic phase displays an ordered layered structure.  In their most famous application, a thin layer of them is placed between two cross polarizers, and applied electric fields can create order in them to stop the transmission of light. FTP name these substances used in namesake displays in computer monitors and HDTV's.
Examples of these materials include methoxy-benzilidene butylanaline and fluorinated tolans.  
liquid crystals