Density and refractive index measurements in hexaheptyloxytriphenylene,a discotic liquid crystal

Density and refractive index measurements in the discotic liquid crystal hexaheptyloxytriphenylene were performed in the hexagonal columnar Col_ho and isotropic I phases. The temperature dependence of the density ρ(T) for this compound was obtained by combining small angle X-ray data and capillary methods. The ordinary n _o extraordinary n _e and isotropic liquid n _i refractive indices were measured using a modified Abbe refractometer to an accuracy of about 10^?3. To check the consistency of the density and the refractometry experiments we used the Lorentz–Lorenz relation. An anomaly in the empirical relationship at the Col_ho–I phase transition, which holds for many uniaxial liquid crystals, was detected. A discrepancy between low birefringence Δn～0.109 and a relatively high local electric field anisotropy for hexaheptyloxytriphenylene is discussed.