Solute NMR study of a bimesogenic liquid crystal with two nematic phases

Recent interest in bimesogenic liquid crystals showing two nematic phases has led us to investigate the nematic mean-field interactions in these nematic phases by using rigid solutes as probes. The nematic potential that is modelled by two independent Maier–Saupe terms is successful in fitting the observed dipolar couplings (molecular order parameters) of para-, meta- and ortho-dichlorobenzene solutes in both nematic phases of 39 wt.% 4-n-pentyl- 4 ′ -cyanobiphenyl (5CB) in α,ω-bis (4- 4 ′ -cyanobiphenyl) nonane (CBC9CB) to better than the 5% level. The derived liquid–crystal potential parameters G 1 and G 2 for each solute in the N and Nx phases are discussed.