Impact of silica nanoparticles dispersion on the dielectric and electro-optical properties and absorption spectra of host ferroelectric liquid crystal

ABSTRACT

The present work concerns with the investigation of the effect of dispersion of Silica (SiO₂) nanoparticles (NPs) in host ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) KCFLC10S on the dielectric and electro-optical properties and ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) absorption spectra of the pristine and dispersed systems. We have found that the dispersion of SiO₂ NPs in the host FLC strongly influences the various properties of dispersed systems. No evidence of aggregates and clumps in the dispersed system has been observed. Due to SiO₂ NPs dispersion, a rapid decrease in dielectric permittivity ε’, increase in conductivity σ with frequency, increase in spontaneous polarisation P_s and decrease in switching time with bias voltage have been observed. Based on the absorption spectra, we have also made an attempt to link the electro-optical and dielectric response with the mechanism of FLC–NPs interactions.

Graphical Abstract

KEYWORDS:

• Nanoparticles
• ferroelectric liquid crystals
• dielectric permittivity
• response time
• spontaneous polarisation
• absorbance spectra

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Dr A.M. Biradar (NPL, New Delhi) for providing laboratory facility and many helpful discussions. PKT is thankful to UGC, New Delhi for providing grant of Dr. D.S. Kothari Post-Doctoral Fellowship. SPY and SS are grateful to SERB, DST, New Delhi for the financial support (Project No-EMR/2014/000541).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the UGC, New Delhi and SERB, DST, New Delhi [EMR/2014/000541].