J. Phys. France 51, 1431-1444 (1990)
DOI: 10.1051/jphys:0199000510130143100
A mean-field study of a model system of grafted rods
Zhen-Gang WangCorporate Research Science Laboratories, Exxon Research and Engineering Company, Annandale, NJ 08801, U.S.A.
Abstract
We study the phase behaviour of a model system of grafted rods on an impenetrable surface, using a van der Waals-like mean-field theory. By accounting for the anisotropy of the in-plane excluded volume effects, it is shown that the in-plane orientational symmetry can be broken for adsorption energy exceeding some critical value, in a density interval, thus leading to a discontinuity in (the deivative of) the fraction of molecules in each orientation. It is further demonstrated, using a van der Waals-type theory, that the inclusion of attractive interactions, when coupled with the anisotropic excluded volume effects, may drive the transition to first order, in addition to inducing the usual gas-liquid transition.
6470M - Transitions in liquid crystals.
6470F - Liquid-vapor transitions.
Key words
liquid crystal phase transformations -- liquid vapour transformations -- phase diagrams