Dielectric and electro-optical studies of a nickel-ferrite-nanoparticle- doped ferroelectric liquid crystal mixture

Abstract

Effect of magnetic nanoparticles (nickel ferrite) doping on the dielectric and electro-optical properties of a ferroelectric liquid crystal mixture has been studied. In a doped ferroelectric liquid crystal mixture, dispersion of a small amount (0.25 wt.%) of nickel ferrite nanoparticles decreases the polarization and improves the response time compared to an undoped mixture. The significant changes in the polarization and response time are explained on the basis of dipole–dipole interaction and anchoring phenomena. Dielectric permittivity also increases with increasing the temperature of the SmC* phase and shows a reduction in dielectric loss in a doped sample. A Goldstone mode is clearly observed at ∼200 and ∼500 Hz in an undoped and a doped sample, respectively.

Keywords:

• ferroelectric liquid crystal
• nickel ferrite nanoparticles
• permittivity
• polarization
• response time

Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to the referees for their valuable suggestions.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The authors thank the Department of Science & Technology, New Delhi, for providing the financial support [project no. SR/FT/CS-50/2011].