Orientational order of some liquid crystal/dye mixtures obtained from optical birefringence

ABSTRACT

This study presents optical birefringence measurements as a function of temperature for the liquid crystal/dye mixtures. The optical birefringence of the liquid crystals used in liquid crystal displays technology is related to the order parameter <P₂>, which is crucial from the development point of view. The properties of the dyes (4-dimethylamino-4′-nitrostilbene and N,N′-bis(2,5-di-tert-buthylphenyl)-3,4,9,10-perylenedicarboximide) as a guest molecule are tested over the whole region of nematic phase occurrence by three different methods: measurement with use of the plano-convex lens, Berek's compensator and photoelastic modulator.

KEYWORDS:

• Liquid crystal
• dye
• mixtures
• optical birefringence
• order parameter

Acknowledgments

The author would like to thank D. Dardas for help in measurements of optical birefringence with use of PEM.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.