ALIGNMENT TRANSITION DRIVEN BY ADSORPTION IN A NEMATIC LIQUID-CRYSTALFORMING H-BONDS

We have found that some nematic liquid crystals whose molecules form H -bonds, namely trans-4-alkylcyclohexane-carboxylic acids, undergo a ne w type of alignment transition on silicon-monoxide-coated glass plates exposed to dry air. We argue that it is caused by the adsorption of t he acid monomers and discuss the result on the basis of Fowler's theor y. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.