Rich polymorphism of a rod-like liquid crystal (8CB) confined in two types of unidirectional nanopores

TL;DR

This study investigates the complex phase behavior of the liquid crystal 8CB confined in nanopores, revealing multiple low-temperature phases and comparing confinement effects in alumina and porous silicon.

Contribution

It provides the first comprehensive phase diagram of 8CB in porous silicon and compares confinement effects between alumina and silicon nanopores.

Findings

At least four low-temperature phases identified in confinement.

Confinement alters phase stability and transitions.

Comparison with bulk and alumina-confined 8CB elucidates disorder effects.

Abstract

We present a neutron and X-rays scattering study of the phase transitions of 4-n-octyl-4'-cyanobiphenyl (8CB) confined in unidirectional nanopores of porous alumina and porous silicon (PSi) membranes with an average diameter of 30 nm. Spatial confinement reveals a rich polymorphism, with at least four different low temperature phases in addition to the smectic A phase. The structural study as a function of thermal treatments and conditions of spatial confinement allows us to get insights into the formation of these phases and their relative stability. It gives the first description of the complete phase behavior of 8CB confined in PSi and provides a direct comparison with results obtained in bulk conditions and in similar geometric conditions of confinement but with reduced quenched disorder effects using alumina anopore membranes