Anisotropy of the solvent self-diffusion tensor as a probe of nematic ordering within dispersions of nanocomposites.

The anisotropy of the solvent self-diffusion coefficient within suspensions of nanoparticles is measured by (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance with pulsed field gradient and used as a new procedure to detect nematic ordering. The potentiality of this method is illustrated using aqueous clay dispersions whose nematic ordering was already detected by (23)Na quadrupolar splitting.