Capillary condensation of a nematic liquid crystal observed by force spectroscopy

We have observed capillary condensation in nanometer-thin films of nematic liquid crystals using force spectroscopy. The liquid crystal was confined to a submicron gap between a flat substrate and a microsphere, attached to the cantilever of an atomic force microscope. A long-ranged and strongly att...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physical review letters 2001-06, Vol.86 (26 Pt 1), p.5914-5917
Main Authors: Kocevar, K, Borstnik, A, Musevic, I, Zumer, S
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:We have observed capillary condensation in nanometer-thin films of nematic liquid crystals using force spectroscopy. The liquid crystal was confined to a submicron gap between a flat substrate and a microsphere, attached to the cantilever of an atomic force microscope. A long-ranged and strongly attractive force due to capillary condensation of a nematic phase was observed at temperatures close to the bulk isotropic-nematic phase transition. The critical point, terminating the first-order confined isotropic-nematic transition line, was determined for the first time.
ISSN:0031-9007
1079-7114
DOI:10.1103/physrevlett.86.5914