Applications of inverse gas chromatography in the study of liquid crystalline stationary phases

We describe measurements on a number of low-molar-mass and polymeric liquid crystals that contain the same mesogenic groups. Transition temperatures for the mesophases have been measured and the supercooled region of hexyloxycyanobiphenyl studied, revealing some differences from the stable mesophase. Activity coefficients and interaction parameters for a range of probes have been measured and allow us to determine the nature and origin of the thermodynamic interactions in the systems. A discussion of how this fundamental information can be used in designing more efficient stationary phases for analytical gas chromatography is also presented. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.