Deviation from the prediction of the Maier-Saupe theory of mixtures of charged discotic Gay-Berne and Lennard-Jones particles

G Saielli and K Satoh, LIQUID CRYSTALS, 51, 2212-2221 (2024).

DOI: 10.1080/02678292.2024.2310615

We report an analysis of the orientational order and orientational distribution functions of mixtures of discotic charged Gay-Berne (GB) and Lennard-Jones (LJ) particles as models of ionic liquid crystals and colloidal suspensions. We have studied three different stoichiometries (GB:LJ of 1:2, 1:1 and 2:1), with the opposite charges on the two particles selected to guarantee electroneutrality. We have found that for relatively low values of the scaled charge the dependence of the fourth-rank orientational order parameter, , on the second-rank orientational order parameter, , is in very good agreement with the prediction of the Maier-Saupe theory. In contrast, for relatively high values of the charge a deviation is observed which is in opposite directions for mixtures with an excess for GB particles and mixtures with an excess of LJ particles. GRAPHICS .

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