Using the evanescent-wave-ellipsometry technique, we have studied the orientational wetting behavior of the homologous series of alkyl cyanobiphenyl liquid crystals (nCB, n=5 to 9) on a glass coated with silane surfactant molecules. The results show complete wetting for 6CB to 9CB and partial wetting for 5CB. They compare well with existing theories.

• Received 3 October 1988

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.62.1860