Layer structure of free-standing smectic LC elastomer films

We probe the mesophase transitions and layer structures in thin ordered smectic liquid crystalline elastomer films by means of x-ray diffraction. Ordered elastomer films of submicrometer thickness are produced by crosslinking freely suspended smectic polymer films. After crosslinking - the mesomorphism is similar to that of the precursor polymer. The smectic layer spacing increases with temperature in the SmC* phase while it decays above the SmC*-SmA transition.