A new room temperature dark conglomerate mesophase formed by bent-core molecules combining 4-iodoresorcinol with azobenzene units.

The first bent-core molecules comprising 4-iodoresorcinol as the central core unit and incorporating azobenzene units have been synthesized. A new type of dark conglomerate phase (DC phase) is observed, which remains over a wide temperature range down to room temperature without crystallization.