Thermogravimetric Studies of Silica Physically and Chemically Modified with the Liquid Crystal 4′-Cyano-4-Biphenyl[4-(4-Pentenyloxy)]Benzoate

Abstract

The interactions of the liquid crystal, 4′-cyano-4-biphenyl[4-(4-pentenyloxy)]benzoate (CBPB), with unmodified and chemically derivatized silica have been studied by high-resolution thermogravimetric analysis (HR-TGA). When CBPB is physically coated onto unmodified silica it undergoes a multistep thermal desorption process. However, when silica is chemically modified with CBPB and subsequently physically coated with CBPB it exhibits a more homogeneous thermal desorption profile which reflect differences in the LC/substrate interactions.