Fast switching response and dielectric behaviour of fullerene/ferroelectric liquid crystal nanocolloids

Abstract

The electro-optical and dielectric responses of the fullerenes C₆₀-doped ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) nanocolloids are reported. Order parameter and phase transition temperature remain invariant as a function of varying dopant concentration (0.10 wt% to 0.50 wt%). Faster switching response of nanocolloids comparing to that of the non-doped FLC is manifested by increase in the localised electric field (around 76% increment for 0.50 wt%), while reduction in the spontaneous polarisation could be the result of anti-parallel correlation amid dopant and FLC dipoles. Decrease in dielectric constant, absorption strength, dielectric strength and rotational viscosity of FLC nanocolloids than that of non-doped FLC is the other consequence of C₆₀ doping. Goldstone-mode relaxation frequency is found to be increased with increasing doping concentration of C₆₀ in FLC.

Keywords:

• fullerenes
• ferroelectric liquid crystal nanocolloids
• electro-optical response
• dielectric dynamics

Acknowledgements

W.H. acknowledges financial support from German Science Foundation (Ha 782/98-1). We acknowledge receiving of the fullerenes from Prof. S.H. Lee, Chonbuk National University, South Korea.