Orientational Distribution Function and Order Parameters of Two 4′-Alkoxy-4-Cyanobiphenyls in Mesomorphic Phase

Abstract

X-ray diffraction studies on samples of 4′-Pentyloxy-4-Cyanobiphenyl and 4′-Octyloxy-4-Cyanobiphenyl over the entire mesomorphic range are reported in this paper. A magnetic field was used to align samples. The orientational distribution functions f(β) have been calculated from the angular distribution of X-ray intensities. Orientational order parameters ( P ₂) and ( P ₄) have been calculated and compared with Maier-Saupe theoretical values. Expressions for the angular part of the pseudopotentials have been obtained from the temperature variation of f(β). The intermolecular distances D have been calculated from the experimental data and it is found that D is significantly smaller for well aligned samples. The apparent molecular length in the nematic phase and the layer thickness in the smectic phase have also been determined and are found to be about 1.4 times larger than the true molecular length in the fully extended form. This is in accordance with the findings from other cyano compounds.