Monitoring catalytic chemical reactions using liquid crystals

A method for monitoring a catalytic chemical reaction, the method comprising:

• (a) exposing a solid surface to conditions to induce a chemical reaction of reactants at an interface formed between the solid surface and a liquid crystal, wherein the solid surface catalyzes the chemical reaction and the liquid crystal is characterized by an anchoring orientation that changes during the chemical reaction, wherein the chemical reaction is a nitration reaction;
• and
• (b) measuring the anchoring orientation of the liquid crystal at one or more time points and at one or more locations on the solid surface during step (a).

A method for monitoring a catalytic chemical reaction, the method comprising:

• (a) exposing a solid surface to conditions to induce a chemical reaction of reactants at an interface formed between the solid surface and a liquid crystal, wherein the solid surface catalyzes the chemical reaction and the liquid crystal is characterized by an anchoring orientation that changes during the chemical reaction, wherein the solid surface has a composition that varies across the solid surface;
• and
• (b) measuring the anchoring orientation of the liquid crystal at one or more time points and at one or more locations on the solid surface during step (a).

A method for monitoring a catalytic chemical reaction, the method comprising:

• (a) exposing a solid surface to conditions to induce a chemical reaction of reactants at an interface formed between the solid surface and a liquid crystal, wherein the solid surface catalyzes the chemical reaction and the liquid crystal is characterized by an anchoring orientation that changes during the chemical reaction, wherein the liquid crystal is characterized by an initial anchoring orientation prior to the chemical reaction and a different, final anchoring orientation after the chemical reaction and the initial anchoring orientation is a planar anchoring orientation and the final anchoring orientation is a homeotropic orientation;
• and
• (b) measuring the anchoring orientation of the liquid crystal at one or more time points and at one or more locations on the solid surface during step (a).