Mesomorphic Investigations of Thermotropic Hydrogen Bonded Liquid Crystals Obtained from Behenic and Benzoic Acids

A novel hydrogen bond liquid crystal homologous series comprising four mesogenic complexes is obtained from non-mesogenic Behenic Acid (BEA) and mesogenic p-n-alkyloxy benzoic acids (nOBA). A Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer is used to confirm the existence of intermolecular hydrogen bonds. Mesophase confirmations through textural observation are performed using a Polarizing Optical Microscope. A Differential Scanning Calorimeter is implemented to obtain thermograms, which reveal the phase transition temperatures of the mesophases in both heating and cooling cycles, along with the enthalpy values. The thermograms obtained also elucidate thermal properties such as energy equivalence, phase stability, transition nature and specific heat capacity.