High-resolution calorimetric investigation of the existence of a nematic phase for the dodecylcyanobiphenyl liquid crystal

Abstract

We have employed high-resolution calorimetric techniques in order to investigate the unresolved issue of the existence of a nematic phase for the liquid crystal dodecylcyanobiphenyl. Various heating and cooling runs were performed on dodecylcyanobiphenyl samples of different origin and their analysis did not reveal any signature of a nematic phase. The calorimetric results are presented in detail and they are additionally supported by optical polarising microscopy observations.

Keywords:

• adiabatic scanning calorimetry
• ac calorimetry
• dodecylcyanobiphenyl
• heat capacity

Acknowledgements

GC acknowledges the Research Council of K. U. Leuven for awarding a postdoctoral fellowship and J. Leys for valuable suggestions during the preparation of the manuscript.