Short- and long-range contributions to the ordering of rigid planar solutes dissolved in a 55wt% ZLI1132+ EBBA nematic mixture

Abstract

Nine well studied (polar and non-polar) planar solutes have been used as probes to investigate the mechanism for orientational ordering in the nematic phase. Second-rank orientational order parameters have been derived from proton dipolar coupling constants, obtained from the NMR spectra of these molecules dissolved in a 55 wt% ZLI1132 + EBBA nematic mixture. The experimental data are interpreted in terms of an orienting potential experienced by molecules in a liquid crystal environment. A model for the orienting potential is presented which includes, in addition to short-range repulsion interactions described by the surface tensor model, long-range contributions treated according to a generalized reaction field approach. Least-squares fits of solvent dependent parameters to the experimental data have been performed to estimate the weight of the various contributions to the solute orientational order, and the results obtained in this way are discussed. Finally, the results obtained with the surface tensor model are compared with those from the size–shape potential suggested by other workers.