The
emerging ferroelectric nematic (NF) liquid crystal is a novel 3D-ordered liquid exhibiting macroscopic
electric polarization. The combination of the ultrahigh dielectric
constant, strong nonlinear optical signal, and high sensitivity to
the electric field makes NF materials
promising for the development of advanced liquid crystal electroopic
devices. Previously, all studies focused on the rod-shaped small molecules
with limited length (l) range and dipole moment (μ)
values. Here, through the precision synthesis, we extend the aromatic
rod-shaped mesogen to oligomer/polymer (repeat unit up to 12 with
monodisperse molecular-weight dispersion) and increase the μ
value over 30 Debye (D). The NF phase has a widespread existence far beyond our expectation and
could be observed in all the oligomer/polymer length range. Notably,
the NF phase experiences a nontrivial
evolution pathway with the traditional apolar nematic phase completely
suppressed, i.e., the NF phase
nucleates directly from the isotropic liquid phase. The discovery
of thte ferroelectric packing of oligomer/polymer rods not only offers
the concept of extending the NF state to oligomers/polymers but also provides some previously overlooked
insights in oxybenzoate-based liquid crystal polymer materials.