Electron-microscope observation of the smectic-nematic transition in a lyotropic liquid crystal

M. J. Sammon, J. A.N. Zasadzinski, M. R. Kuzma

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

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Abstract

We observe via freeze-fracture transmission electron microscopy the transition from the disklike micellar nematic phase to the lamellar smectic phase of decylammonium chloride-ammonium chloridewater as a function of temperature. We show direct visual evidence of the size and shape of the aggregates in the nematic phase, the mechanism of the nematic-smectic transition, and the origin of the residual in-plane order in the smectic phase. These observations are consistent with previous scattering, conductivity, and NMR measurements on this system.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2834-2837
Number of pages4
JournalPhysical Review Letters
Volume57
Issue number22
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 1986

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