Mosses, J., Syme, C. D. and Wynne, K. (2015) The order parameter of the liquid-liquid transition in a molecular liquid. Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, 6(1), pp. 38-43. (doi: 10.1021/jz5022763)
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100728.pdf - Accepted Version 2MB |
Abstract
Liquid–liquid transitions (LLTs) between amorphous phases of a single (chemically unchanged) liquid were predicted to occur in most molecular liquids but have only been observed in triphenyl phosphite (TPP) and n-butanol, and even these examples have been dismissed as “aborted crystallization”. One of the foremost reasons that LLTs remain so controversial is the lack of an obvious order parameter, that is, a physical parameter characterizing the phase transition. Here, using the technique of fluorescence lifetime imaging, we show for the first time that the LLT in TPP is characterized by a change in polarity linked to changes in molecular ordering associated with crystal polymorphs. We conclude that the LLT in TPP is a phase transition associated with frustrated molecular clusters, explaining the paucity of examples of LLTs seen in nature.
Item Type: | Articles |
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Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Mosses, Mrs Joanna and Syme, Dr Christopher and Wynne, Professor Klaas |
Authors: | Mosses, J., Syme, C. D., and Wynne, K. |
Subjects: | Q Science > QC Physics Q Science > QD Chemistry |
College/School: | College of Science and Engineering > School of Chemistry |
Journal Name: | Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters |
Publisher: | American Chemical Society |
ISSN: | 1948-7185 |
ISSN (Online): | 1948-7185 |
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