Abstract
We have performed a calorimetry and deuterium nuclear magnetic resonance study for a member of the liquid crystal homologous series, n̄.O.m̄ , in bulk and confined to the 0.2 μm cylindrical pores of aluminum oxide Anopore membranes. It was shown in an ellipsometry study by Lucht and coworkers that this material shows a prewetting nematic transition at an air interface. Thermodynamically, at the Anopore solid pore walls these liquid crystals also exhibit unique wetting properties: a distinct signature in the specific heat, a "bump" at a temperature approximately 0.5 K above TNI is found. We believe that such signature is related to the manner that the nematic liquid crystal wets the solid surfaces.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 341-351 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals Science and Technology Section A: Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals |
Volume | 367 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2001 |
Keywords
- Confinement
- Specific heat
- Wetting
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Condensed Matter Physics