Continuous Nematic-Isotropic Transition in Submicron-Size Liquid-Crystal Droplets

A. Golemme; S. Zumer; D. W. Allender; J. W. Doane

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.61.2937

Continuous Nematic-Isotropic Transition in Submicron-Size Liquid-Crystal Droplets

A. Golemme, S. Zumer, D. W. Allender, and J. W. Doane

Phys. Rev. Lett. 61, 2937 – Published 26 December 1988

Abstract

Deuterium NMR of nematic droplets in a polymer matrix reveals the effect of confinement on molecular orientational ordering near the nematic-isotropic ( $N - I$ ) phase transition. For large droplets of 0.35 μm in diameter, the $N - I$ transition is first order. For droplets of less than 0.035 μm in diameter, the isotropic phase shows a paranematic order and the $N - I$ transition is replaced by a continual evolvement from paranematic to nematic order. This result provides the first demonstration of Sheng's prediction that the $N - I$ coexistence curve terminates at a critical enclosure size.

Received 5 August 1988

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.61.2937

Authors & Affiliations

A. Golemme^*, S. Zumer^†, D. W. Allender, and J. W. Doane

Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 44242

^*Permanent address: Dipartimento di Chimica, Universita della Calabria, 87030 Arcavacata di Rende (Cs), Italy.
^†Permanent address: Department of Physics, E. Kardelj University of Ljubljana, Jadranska 19, 61000, Ljubljana, Yugoslavia.