Proton spin–lattice relaxation in nematic microdroplets

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Abstract
The frequency and temperature dependences of the proton spin–lattice relaxation rate have been studied in nematic droplets embedded in a solid polymer matrix. The comparison of these data to those for bulk nematic and pure polymer samples shows that cross‐relaxation between liquid crystal and polymerprotons dominates the liquid crystal relaxation in the MHz frequency region, while at low frequencies the translationally induced molecular rotation becomes important. The cross‐relaxation rate is found to be ≈103 s− 1 giving an order of magnitude estimate 10− 4–10− 3 s for the time for which a liquid crystal molecule is bonded to the surface.