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Low temperature phase transformations in 4-cyano-4'-pentylbiphenyl (5CB) filled by multiwalled carbon nanotubes

The effects of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (NTs) on low-temperature phase transformations in 5CB were studied by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), low-temperature photoluminescence and measurements of electrical conductivity. The concentration of NTs was varied within 0-1% wt. The experimental data, obtained for pure 5CB by DSC and measurements of photoluminescence in the heating mode, evidenced the presence of two crystallization processes at T->229 K and T->262 K, which correspond to C1a->C1b, and C1b->C2 phase transformations. Increase of temperature T from 10 K to 229 K provoked the red shift of photoluminescence spectral band that was explained by flattening of 5CB molecule conformation. Moreover, the photoluminescence data allow to conclude that crystallisation at T=229 K results in conformation transition to non-planar 5CB structure characteristic to ideal crystal. The non-planar conformations were dominating in nematic phase, i.e., at T>297 K. Electrical conductivity data for NTs-5CB composites revealed supplementary anomaly inside the stable crystalline phase C2, identified earlier in the temperature range 229 K-296.8 K. It can reflect the influence of phase transformation of 5CB in interfacial layers on the transport of charge carriers between NTs.