Twist-grain boundary phase induced by Au nanoparticles in a chiral liquid crystal host. Issue 10 (9th August 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Trček, Maja; Cordoyiannis, George; Rožič, Brigita; Tzitzios, Vassilios; Nounesis, George; Kralj, Samo; Lelidis, Ioannis; Lacaze, Emmanuelle; Amenitsch, Heinz; Kutnjak, Zdravko
• Is Part Of: Liquid crystals. Volume 44:Issue 10(2017)
• Page Start: 1575
• Page End: 1581
• Publication Date: 2017-08-09
• Subjects: Gold nanoparticles -- calorimetry -- liquid crystals -- twist-grain boundary phase -- SAXS -- plasmon resonance; Liquid crystals -- Periodicals; 548.905
• DOI: 10.1080/02678292.2017.1306887
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0267-8292

Abstract

ABSTRACT: We report on the stabilisation of the liquid-crystalline, twist-grain boundary A (TGB A ) phase in mixtures of a chiral liquid crystal and surface-functionalised spherical Au nanoparticles (NPs) of 10 nm diameter. The results, obtained by calorimetric, optical, small-angle X-ray and plasmon resonance measurements, demonstrate that a TGB A phase, which is metastable for the pure liquid crystal host, can be effectively stabilised for a 3 K range in the presence of NPs. Moreover, the role of NPs size on the TGB A stabilisation is briefly discussed. Graphical Abstract: