Liquid crystal molecules are described with desirably reduced attenuation in portions of the long-wave infrared (LWIR) spectrum. The molecules include a linear hydrocarbon of varying length (C.sub.nH.sub.2n+1, where n, for example, is from 4-7), a deuterated phenyl core comprising 2 or 3 rings, and one terminal cyano group. These enable electro-optic such as light modulators, phased arrays, polarization gratings, refractive steerers, and the like, operable at LWIR.