title: Capillary condensation of a nematic liquid crystal observed by force spectroscopy.
abstract: We have observed capillary condensation in nanometer-thin films of nematic liquid crystals using force spectroscopy. The liquid crystal was confined to a submicron gap between a flat substrate and a microsphere, attached to the cantilever of an atomic force microscope. A long-ranged and strongly attractive force due to capillary condensation of a nematic phase was observed at temperatures close to the bulk isotropic-nematic phase transition. The critical point, terminating the first-order confined isotropic-nematic transition line, was determined for the first time.
authors: J. Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Kocevar
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Borstnik
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Musevic
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Zumer