On the structure of the Nx phase of symmetric dimers: inferences from NMR

Hoffmann, Anke; Vanakaras, Alexandros G.; Kohlmeier, Alexandra; Mehl, Georg; Photinos, Demetri J.

Abstract

NMR measurements on a selectively deuterated liquid crystal dimer CB-C9-CB, exhibiting two nematic phases, show that the molecules in the lower temperature nematic phase, NX, experience a chiral environment and are ordered about a uniformly oriented director throughout the macroscopic sample. The results are contrasted with previous interpretations that suggested a twist-bend spatial variation of the director. A structural picture is proposed wherein the molecules are packed into highly correlated chiral assemblies.

Citation

Hoffmann, A., Vanakaras, A. G., Kohlmeier, A., Mehl, G., & Photinos, D. J. (2015). On the structure of the Nx phase of symmetric dimers: inferences from NMR. Soft matter, 11(5), 850-855. https://doi.org/10.1039/c4sm02480j

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 17, 2014
• Online Publication Date: Dec 17, 2014
• Publication Date: Feb 7, 2015
• Deposit Date: Sep 8, 2015
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 27, 2022
• Journal: Soft matter
• Print ISSN: 1744-683X
• Electronic ISSN: 1744-6848
• Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 11
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 850-855
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/c4sm02480j
• Keywords: Symmetric dimers
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/378838
• Publisher URL: http://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/2015/SM/C4SM02480J#!divAbstract
• Additional Information: This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in Soft matter following peer review. The version of record Hoffmann, A. et al. (2015) On the structure of the Nx phase of symmetric dimers: inferences from NMR. Soft matter, Volume 11, Issue 5, Pages 850-855 is available online at: dx.doi.org/10.1039/C4SM02480J.