Dielectric Studies and Memory Effect in Nanoparticle Doped Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal Films

Abstract

Dispersed liquid crystal materials consist of silica nanoparticles doped into ferroelectric liquid crystal have been prepared and studied in smectic C* phase. It is found that dielectric permittivity decreases with increasing the silica concentration. Goldstone mode has been observed at a relaxation frequency of ∼250 Hz in the smectic C* phase. Relaxation frequency increases with increasing the silica concentration and temperature in the smectic C* phase and decreases as we approaches toward the SmA phase. Bias voltage dependence on permittivity indicates a memory state.

Keywords:

• Dielectric permittivity
• ferroelectric liquid crystal
• Goldstone mode
• memory
• relaxation frequency
• silica nanoparticles

Acknowledgment

Authors sincerely thank to Director NIT Jalandhar for their kind support and encouragement. One of us (AC) acknowledges the MHRD, India for financial support. Authors also thank to reviewer for useful suggestion and comments.