INFLUENCE OF CONFINEMENT ON DYNAMICS OF MOLECULAR-MOTION AND COLLECTIVE MODES OF LIQUID-CRYSTAL DISPERSED IN PORES

We present the results of investigations of the influence of the confi nement, interface, porous matrix structure, pore size and shape on the dynamic behavior of nematic liquid crystals (LC) dispersed in porous matrices with randomly oriented, interconnected pores (porous glasses) and parallel cylindrical pores (Anopore membranes) by photon correlat ion and dielectric spectroscopies. Investigations of LC in cylindrical pores together with studies in random porous matrices, makes it possi ble to separate the role of random structure and domain formation from the contributions due to existence of LC - solid pore wall interface and pure finite size effect in different relaxational processes. We su ggest that slow relaxational process observed in photon correlation ex periments is due to the formation of interfacial layers on the pore wa lls rather than due to the dynamics of domains.