Correlation between Chemical and Electrochemical Reactivity and dc Conduction in the Isotropic Phase of a Liquid Crystalline p-Methoxybenzylidene-p-n-butylaniline

Different mechanisms of ions generation that take place, either in the liquid volume or at a chemically inert electrode, have been distinguishedby polarographic study of hydrolysis and electrochemical oxidation which characterizes the p-methoxybenzylidene-p-n-butylaniline (MBBA) molecule. In both cases, the protonated form of MBBA has been identified. The analysis of low field electrical conductivity of highly purified samples gives information on mobility values and kinetic constants of dissociation and recombination of a presumed protonic weak electrolyte in solution. The main conclusion is that thermal dissociation of impurities is responsible for bulk residual conductivity while protonic injection plays a leading part in high field conduction in the liquid phase of MBBA.