FTIR study of E7 liquid crystals confined to perfluorinated carboxylic acid treated cylindrical cavities of Anodisc membranes

Orientation of E7 liquid crystals(LCs) confined to 200 nm-diameter cylindrical cavities of Anodisc membranes are investigated by FTIR dichroism techniques. The cavity walls of the confining pores are chemically modified with different perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PCA, $C_nF_{2n+1}$COOH, n=3, 4, 5, 6). From the FTIR spectra of PCA treated alumina Anodsic membranes, we found the salt formation between -COOH group of PCA and Anodisc membrane. From the FTIR spectra of LC filled Anodisc membranes, we found abrupt alignment direction change of LC molecules between n=4 and 5 for 1 mM PCA treated Anodisc membranes, from parallel to perpendicular direction to the cavity walls. But 5mM PCA treated Anodisc membranes, alignment direction of LC molecules changed between n=3 and n=4, from parallel to perpendicular direction.