We analyzed the local nanostructure in binary mixtures of rod- and bent-shaped molecules, n-pentyl-4-cyanobiphenyl (5CB) and 1,3-phenylene bis[4-(4-n-octyloxyphenyliminomethyl) benzoates] (P-8-OPIMB), respectively, using small- and wide-angle X-ray microbeam and macrobeam scattering. From the orientational X-ray scattering patterns, we concluded that the nematic director of 5CB is almost parallel to the smectic layers dominated by bent-core molecules in Bx. Moreover, we observed oriented small-angle diffraction peaks (about 300 Å), which is close to the spacing of 5-7 layers, and also consistent with the width of a helical nanofilament textures as observed by freeze-fracture transmission electron microscopy. The kinetics in B4 was also discussed based on the contact experimental method.

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http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jp410201tDOI Listing

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