Polarization field effects at liquid-crystal-droplet-polymer interfaces.

Full Abstract

The influence of confinement (droplet size) and liquid crystal orientational order (smectic-A and nematic) on the interfacial polarization field effects [Maxwell-Wagner-Sillars (MWS) effect] existing in liquid-crystal-droplets-polymer systems is investigated by broadband dielectric spectroscopy and a forward transmittance measurement technique. A relaxation process observed in the low frequency domain of the dielectric spectrum has been associated with a MWS effect for both micron-size and submicron-size droplets. Using electro-optical measurements and numerical simulations of the field inside droplets, it is shown that a depolarization field takes place in the same frequency range as that determined by dielectric spectroscopy. Differential scanning calorimetry measurements allowed to estimate the phase-separated liquid crystal [4,4'-octylcyanobiphenyl (8CB)] fraction, which was found in the range of 55% for both micron-size and submicron-size droplets. X-ray diffraction experiments showed that smectic 8CB confined to micron-size cavities adopt bulklike properties, i.e., a partial bilayer structure, whereas in submicron-size droplets the layer spacing of the smectic phase is increased due to the strong bending deformations induced by the high curvature of the cavity walls.

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Author information

Author/s: Boussoualem, Mourad (M); Ismaili, Mimoun (M); Lamonier, Jean-François (JF); Buisine, Jean-Marc (JM); Roussel, Frédérick (F);

Affiliation: Laboratoire de Thermophysique de la Matière Condensée, UMR CNRS 8024, MREI, Université du Littoral-Côte d'Opale, 59140 Dunkerque, France.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics (Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Apr; vol 73 (issue 4 Pt 1) : pp 041702

Dates: Created 2006/05/22; Completed 2006/08/08;

PMID: 16711822, status: PubMed-not-MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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