Birefringence Study in Hydrogen Bonded Complexes

A novel series of linear complementary hydrogen bonded complexes fashioned between p-n-alkylbenzoic acids (nBA) and m-fluorobenzoic acid (FBA) are isolated. The obtained homologous series comprising of seven mesogens are analyzed by polarizing optical microscope (POM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) spectroscopy. It is interesting to note the correlation between the alkyl chain length and the mesogenic phases. The order of the transitions is examined through Cox parameter, experimentally derived by thermal analysis (DSC). Optical tilt angle studies in smectic C and thermal stability factors for various phases are discussed. Birefringence study by various techniques enabled to measure the refractive index at various phase transitions. These results are compared and conferred with those obtained from conventional refractometer. Further orientational order parameter for various phases has been discussed.