Anchoring and structural transitions as a function of molecular length in confined liquid crystals

Using deuteron nuclear magnetic resonance to study liquid crystals confined to cylindrical pores, an anchoring transition has been found. The transition exhibits an unexpected sharp dependence of the anchoring strength on cyanobiphenyl liquid crystal molecular length. A structural transition from a parallel axial to a planar radial configuration occurs due to an anchoring transition from planar to weakly homeotropic orientation at the walls. The anchoring strength is at a minimum near the decylcyanobiphenyl (10CB) liquid crystal length. Long chain liquid crystal configurations depend on thermal cycling and on the equilibrium atmosphere leading to a bistable SmA structure. Orientational order wetting in the isotropic phase also depends on molecular length.