Effect of inorganic 1D nanoparticles on electrooptic properties of 5CB liquid crystal. Issue 11 (4th October 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rajh, Denis; Shelestiuk, Sergii; Mertelj, Alenka; Mrzel, Aleš; Umek, Polona; Irusta, Silvia; Zak, Alla; Drevenšek‐Olenik, Irena
• Is Part Of: Physica status solidi. Volume 210:Issue 11(2013:Nov.)
• Page Start: 2328
• Page End: 2334
• Publication Date: 2013-10-04
• Subjects: Solid state physics -- Periodicals; Solids -- Industrial applications -- Periodicals; 530.41
• DOI: 10.1002/pssa.201329363
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1862-6300

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="pssa201329363-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <p>Electrooptic properties of mixtures of 4‐cyano‐4′‐pentylbiphenyl (5CB) thermotropic liquid crystal with four different inorganic dopants: (i) MoSI nanowires, (ii) MnO₂ nanorods, (iii) Ag nanowires, and (iv) WS₂ nanotubes were investigated by a conventional optical measurement technique. The dopant concentrations were in the range from 0.1 to 0.5 wt%. In all mixtures aggregation of the 1D nanoparticle (1D‐NP) material was observed, therefore electrooptic response was probed in the regions in‐between the aggregates. All four 1D‐NP dopants produce a decrease of the threshold voltage for electrooptic switching and also a decrease of the corresponding switching times. The most profound effects are observed for MnO₂/5CB system, which exhibits a reduction of the threshold voltage by a factor of 1.7 and a reduction of the total switching time by a factor of 1.5. The effect is associated with an increase of the dielectric anisotropy of the mixture. The specific behaviour of the MnO₂ nanorods is attributed to their relatively low aspect ratio that provides most suitable conditions for good alignment in the liquid crystal host.</p> </sec> </abstract>