Molecular Ordering and Even-Odd Effect in a Homologous Series of Nematic Liquid Crystals

A. Pines; D. J. Ruben; S. Allison

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.33.1002

Molecular Ordering and Even-Odd Effect in a Homologous Series of Nematic Liquid Crystals

A. Pines, D. J. Ruben, and S. Allison

Phys. Rev. Lett. 33, 1002 – Published 21 October 1974

Abstract

Order parameters have been measured in a homologous series of nematic liquid crystals, $p$ -alkoxyazoxybenzenes, by ${}^{13}C$ NMR. The ordering exhibits an even-odd alternation along the series, and a comparison of our data at the isotropic-nematic transition temperatures is made for the first time with a recent theory of Marčelja which explicitly accounts for end-chain interactions between the molecules. Some conclusions are drawn concerning molecular conformational motion and ${}^{14}N$ spin relaxation in the nematic phase.

Received 22 July 1974

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.33.1002

Authors & Affiliations

A. Pines^*, D. J. Ruben, and S. Allison

Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, and Inorganic Materials Division, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720