3a04 The effect of salt and water on the structure and properties of an inorganic nanosheet liquid crystal

Abstract

The properties and structure of the liquid crystalline (LC) colloid of the clay mineral nanosheet, fluorohectorite (FHT), dispersed in dimethylformamide (DMF) was investigated as the functions of the concentrations of a salt, water, and the nanosheets. The FHT/DMF system showed birefringence due to the LC phase above 0.5 wt. %. Small angle X-ray scattering revealed the presence of the lamellar structure in the LC phases, whose basal spacing decreased as the nanosheet concentration increses or a salt is added. Addition of water to FHT/DMF system resulted in the decrease in basal spacing and increase in structural regularity. The viscosity of the system significantly increased as the salt was added.