ABSTRACT
Although the molecular-level nanoparticle-liquid crystal (NP-LC) interactions are key for forming stable NP dispersions in LC, characterisation of these interactions is scarce in the literature. Recently, we have developed hydrogen-bonded LC nanocomposites based on mesogenic carboxylic acids and NPs functionalised with hydrogen-bond acceptor/donor groups. Here, we apply solid-state 1H and 13C NMR and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopies to model systems consisting of mixtures of trans-4-n-butylcyclohexanecarboxylic acid (4-BCHA), 4-hexylbenzoic acid (6BA) and 4,4ʹ-bipyridine. The binary mixture, 4-BCHA:6BA, was also studied. The results were compared to monolayer quantities of 6BA and 4-BCHA adsorbed on pyridine functionalised zirconia NPs (ZrO2-n3-pyridine) to understand the different effects of the functionalised NPs on the LC properties.
Graphical Abstract
![](/cms/asset/54397adc-0205-44b6-9aec-e3bd8d3e1e89/tlct_a_1555723_uf0001_oc.jpg)
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Supplementary material
Supplementary material can be accessed here.