The effect of a nanometer confinement on the molecular dynamics of poly(methyl phenyl siloxane) (PMPS) was studied by dielectric spectroscopy (DK), temperature modulated DSC (TMDSC) and neutron scattering (NS). DK and TMDSC experiments show that for PMPS in 7.5 nm pores the molecular dynamics is faster than in the bulk which originates from an inherent length scale of the underlying molecular motions. At a pore size of 5 nm the temperature dependence of the relaxations times changes from a Vogel-Fulcher-Tammann like behavior to an Arrhenius one. At the same pore size Dcp vanishes. These results give strong support that the glass transition has to be characterized by an inherent length scale of the relevant molecular motions. Quasielastic neutron scattering experiments reveal a strong change even in the microscopic dynamic.
A composite prepared from aerosil A380 and the liquid crystal (LC) 4-hexyl-4'-cyanophenyl benzoate (CP6B) was investigated by broadband dielectric spectroscopy in a large temperature range. The selected high silica density (ca. 7 g aerosil/1 g of CP6B) allows the observation of a thin layer (two-monolayer structure) adsorbed on the surface of the silica particles. For the composite one relaxation process is observed at frequencies much lower than that of the processes found for bulk CP6B. It is assigned to the dynamics of the molecules in the surface layer. The temperature dependence of its relaxation rates obeys the Vogel-Fulcher-Tammann law, which is characteristic for glass-forming liquids. The quasi 2D character of the observed glassy dynamics in the surface layer is discussed. The temperature dependence of the CP6B relaxation in the composite is compared with that of related hexylcyanobiphenyl molecules in the surface layer of aerosil composite with a similar concentration.