Morphology and electro‐optical properties of nematic liquid crystal/Aerosil® nanoparticle composites

Abstract

Liquid crystalline materials play an important role in the synthesis of nanoparticles of well‐defined shape and size; at the same time nanoparticles dispersed in liquid crystals allow investigation of defect formation in liquid crystal suspensions and enhance the light scattering properties of nematic cells. The morphology and the electro‐optical properties were investigated of thin films of nematic liquid crystal/Aerosil® nanoparticle composites, in which the Aerosil® nanoparticles are interconnected by free radical polymerisation. The prepared cells are characterised by high contrast ratios, large switching electric fields, but very fast relaxation times. In addition, memory effects were observed in the samples, since Aerosil® particles tended to generate local defects in the liquid crystal after the first switching run.

Keywords:

• nanoparticle composites
• Aerosil®
• light scattering

Acknowledgments

MIUR is acknowledged for financial supports (EX‐60% and PRIN).