Orientational ordering of linear n-alkanes in silicon nanotubes.

Orientational ordering of short and intermediate -alkanes confined to silicon nanotubes has been studied using 1H NMR. The measured residual nuclear dipolar couplings characterizing the degree of molecular ordering were found to depend on the pore size and the molecular length in a complex way. It is inferred from the experimental results that the observed behavior is governed by concomitance of surface and intermolecular interactions as well as the effect of confinement.