Anisotropic Molecular Orientation of Micellar Nematic Phase in a Binary Mixture of Two Nonmesogenic Compounds

What is it about?

We report the results of our studies on the optical and thermal properties of two non- mesogenic compounds, namely, Cetyl-dimethyl-ethylammonium bromide (CDEAB) and Glacial acetic acid. The mixture exhibits very interesting schilieren texture of micellar nematic phase, SmA, SmC ∗ , and SmE phases, respectively, at different concentrations of CDEAB sequentially when the specimen is cooled from its isotropic phase. The order parameter (S) of the micellar nematic phase is estimated with the help of temperature dependence of optical anisotropy from the measured values refractive index and density data. The temperature variation of order parameter of the experimental curve is very well fitted with the Mayer–Saupe theoretical curve. X-ray studies have been discussed. The formation of above phases has been confirmed by optical and DSC studies.

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Why is it important?

Keywords: Binary mixture; lyotropic phase; molecular orientation; optical anisotropy; phase formation.

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