Molecular Ordering of a Nematogen at Phase Transition Temperature - A Theoretical Study

Abstract

Molecular ordering in 4-cyano-4'- n -propylbiphenyl ( CB3 ), a nematic liquid crystal, has been studied with the help of intermolecular interaction energy calculations. The CNDO / 2 method has been employed to compute the net atomic charge and atomic dipole moment at each atomic centre. Modified Rayleigh-Schrodinger perturbation theory along with multicentered-multipole expansion method has been employed to evaluate long-range intermolecular interactions, while a ' 6-exp ' potential function has been assumed for short-range interactions. The interaction energy values obtained through these computations were used to calculate the probability of each configuration at the phase transition temperature using Maxwell-Boltzmann formula. All possible geometrical arrangements between molecular pair have been considered during stacking, in-plane and terminal interactions. An attempt has been made to identify the most probable configuration at the phase transition temperature during stacking, in-plane and terminal interactions. Results obtained have been discussed in the light of experimental as well as other theoretical observations.