title: Thin liquid crystal films on liquids in the nematic range of temperatures.
abstract: Hybrid nematic films deposited on liquid substrates reveal a complex behavior, which is not fully understood. Here, the behavior of the n-cyanobiphenyl series on water and glycerol has been studied in a wide temperature range, including the vicinity of the nematic-isotropic (NI) transition. Wettability, allowed film thicknesses, and line tension of nematic domains have been investigated. The study provides a coherent picture of hybrid nematic films, allowing us to account for lower thickness threshold, structure of the film edge, and line tension of domains in the whole nematic range of temperatures.
authors.affiliation: Université Pierre et Marie Curie et LPS-ENS, UMR 8550 du CNRS, 24 rue Lhomond, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France.
authors.forename: Ulysse
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Delabre
authors.forename: Céline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Richard
authors.forename: Yann Yip Cheung
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Sang
authors.forename: Anne-Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Cazabat