Twist-grain boundary phase induced by Au nanoparticles in a chiral liquid crystal host

ABSTRACT

We report on the stabilisation of the liquid-crystalline, twist-grain boundary A (TGB_A) phase in mixtures of a chiral liquid crystal and surface-functionalised spherical Au nanoparticles (NPs) of 10 nm diameter. The results, obtained by calorimetric, optical, small-angle X-ray and plasmon resonance measurements, demonstrate that a TGB_A phase, which is metastable for the pure liquid crystal host, can be effectively stabilised for a 3 K range in the presence of NPs. Moreover, the role of NPs size on the TGB_A stabilisation is briefly discussed.

Graphical Abstract

KEYWORDS:

• Gold nanoparticles
• calorimetry
• liquid crystals
• twist-grain boundary phase
• SAXS
• plasmon resonance

Acknowledgements

M.T. acknowledges the support of the Project PR-05015 of the Slovenian Research Agency, the support grant of the French Institute in Slovenia and the technical assistance of Dominique Demaille and Luka Cmok. G.C. acknowledges the support of the Greek Ministry ofEducation, action ‘Support of Postdoctoral Researchers’[grant number PE3-1535] and V.T., G.C. and G.N. acknowledge support and funding by the Greek Ministry ofEducation, theOperational Project “Education and Lifelong Learning,” [THALES Program number 380170]. B.R. acknowledges the Labex MATISSE for the support and funding of postdoctoral project. Z.K. acknowledges support from the Project P1-0125 of the Slovenian Research Agency. Z.K., G.C. and S.K. acknowledge the support of the European Office of Aerospace Research and Development Grant FA8655-12-1-2068. I.L. acknowledges the support of the Special Account for Research Grants of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. We also are grateful to Sebastien Royer for the help in using the set up allowing for plasmon measurements at INSP.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

M.T. acknowledges the support of the Project PR-05015 of the Slovenian Research Agency, the support grant of the French Institute in Slovenia. G.C. acknowledges the support of the Greek Ministry of Education, action ‘Support of Postdoctoral Researchers’ [grant number PE3-1535] and V.T., G.C. and G.N. acknowledge support and funding by the Greek Ministry of Education, the Operational Project “Education and Lifelong Learning,” [THALES Program number 380170]. B.R. acknowledges the Labex MATISSE for the support and funding of postdoctoral project. Z.K. acknowledges support from the Project P1-0125 of the Slovenian Research Agency. Z.K., G.C. and S.K. acknowledge the support of the European Office of Aerospace Research and Development Grant FA8655-12-1-2068. I.L. acknowledges the support of the Special Account for Research Grants of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.