Nematic Isotropic Pretransitional Behavior in Dimers with Odd and Even Spacer Lengths

Authors

Charles Rosenblatt, Case Western Reserve University
Anselm C. Griffin, University of Southern MississippiFollow
Uma Hari, University of Southern Mississippi
Geoffrey R. Luckhurst, University of Southampton

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-1-1991

Department

Chemistry and Biochemistry

School

Mathematics and Natural Sciences

Abstract

Magnetic field induced optical birefringence measurements in the isotropic phase are reported for two members of a series of phenyl benzoate dimers: one having an odd number of methylene units in the spacer and one having an even number. The discontinuity at the nematic-isotropic transition, as determined by the difference between the first order phase transition temperature TNI and the supercooling limit of the isotropic phase T∗, is approximately 8 ± 3 times larger for the even species than for the odd. In addition, the product of the Cotton-Mouton coefficient dΔn/dH² and T–T∗ is the same for both materials. In terms of both steric and molecular field theories, the results indicate that the orientations of the terminal mesogenic groups are essentially uncorrected in the isotropic phase.

Publication Title

Liquid Crystals

Volume

9

Issue

6

First Page

831

Last Page

838

Recommended Citation

Rosenblatt, C., Griffin, A. C., Hari, U., Luckhurst, G. R. (1991). Nematic Isotropic Pretransitional Behavior in Dimers with Odd and Even Spacer Lengths. Liquid Crystals, 9(6), 831-838.
Available at: https://aquila.usm.edu/fac_pubs/7030