Dynamics and phase behaviour of materials in confined geometry

Abstract

Phase transitions and dynamics of the liquid crystal MBBA [N-( p-methoxybenzylidene)-p-n-butylaniline] microconfined within porous glasses of average pore diameters: 82 and 337 Å were investigated by ¹H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). Confinement is found to favour the depression of phase transition temperatures below the corresponding transitions of bulk MBBA. Confinement induces further effects for the molecular dynamics related to the phase investigated. The correlation times of the molecular motions were obtained and the results are discussed by making comparison with the bulk analysis.

Keywords:

• Nmr
• Confined Liquid Crystals
• Polymorphism