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.
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.