Dielectric and electro-optical properties of a nematic liquid crystalline material with gold nanoparticles

ABSTRACT

We have prepared the composites of a room temperature nematic liquid crystalline material namely 4-(trans-4′-n-hexylcyclohexyl) isothiocyanatobenzoate (6CHBT) and gold nanoparticles (GNPs). Thermodynamic, electro-optical and dielectric properties have been investigated. Effect of dispersion of GNPs on various electro-optical and display parameters of host liquid crystalline material have been studied. Physical parameters such as threshold voltage, dielectric anisotropy and splay elastic constant have altered for composite systems. Due to the dispersion of GNPs, nematic to isotropic transition temperature is significantly increased. Relaxation frequency corresponding to flip-flop motion of the 6CHBT molecules about their short axes has increased due to the presence of GNPs.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Nematic liquid crystal
• electro-optical
• gold nanoparticles
• display parameters
• dielectric
• transmission–voltage characteristic

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

We acknowledge financial support to Centre of Materials Science under the FIST programme of Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. One of us (HME) wishes to express her deep sense of gratitude and thanks to her country (Libya) for financial support for her PhD studies. KLP thanks UGC, New Delhi for financial assistance under Project number: 8-4(61)/2015 (MRP/NRCB).