Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 125501 (2004) [4 pages]Biaxial Nematic Phase in a Thermotropic Liquid-Crystalline Side-Chain PolymerReceived 27 November 2003; published 22 March 2004 We report on variable-angle deuterium NMR measurements of nematic liquid-crystalline side-chain polymers, where we have found proof of the existence of a biaxial nematic phase in a system with a side-on attachment of the mesogenic group to the polymer backbone. This provides efficient coupling to the polymer backbone and thus stabilizes the as yet elusive biaxial phase. The experimental approach is validated on a uniaxial end-on nematic polymer, and the reliability of the results is investigated in detail using two-dimensional correlation spectra, providing information on director distribution effects. © 2004 The American Physical Society URL:
http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevLett.92.125501
DOI:
10.1103/PhysRevLett.92.125501
PACS:
61.30.–v, 61.30.Gd, 64.70.Md, 76.60.–k
|
|
About | Terms and Conditions | Subscriptions | Search | Help
Use of the American Physical Society websites and journals implies that the user has read and agrees to our Terms and Conditions and any applicable Subscription Agreement. Physical Review®, Physical Review Letters®, Reviews of Modern Physics®, and Physical Review Special Topics® are trademarks of the American Physical Society.