Dielectric relaxation of liquid crystal molecules in anisotropic confinements

The dielectric relaxation of the liquid crystal 4-n-pentyl-4'-cyanobiphenyl (K15) in the presence of an anisotropic network has been studied. Anisotropic networks containing K15 molecules were prepared by in situ polymerisation of liquid-crystalline diacrylate molecules in a mixture containing K15. By changing the network concentration, the effect of the network molecules on the behaviour of the K15 molecules, which were not chemically attached to the network, was investigated. With increasing network concentration it was found that the mean relaxation times of K15 molecules shifted to lower temperatures and that their distribution became broader. The activation energy associated with the relaxation, however, remained almost constant before showing some increase at high network concentrations.