Electric field-induced component dynamics in a binary liquid crystal mixture studied using two-dimensional Raman scattering

The intermolecular interactions in a mixed, binary liquid crystal system are probed using two-dimensional Raman scattering. The sample is a 50/50 by weight blend of 4-pentyl(4-cyanophenyl)cyclohexane (PCH5) and 4-methoxybenzylidene-4-butylaniline (MBBA). The response of the Raman anisotropy of the individual components to step voltages is identical. Furthermore, cross correlation analysis of oscillatory electric field experiments shows only synchronous reorientation between the two constituents. Since neat MBBA aligns perpendicular and neat CH5 aligns parallel to the applied field, the data imply strong intermolecular interactions. Additionally, as previously observed for PCH5, frequency sweep experiments indicate that the flexible parts of the molecules can reorient independently of the rigid cores.