Enhancement of the physical parameters due to the dispersion of functionalised gold nanoparticles in a room temperature nematic liquid crystal

A room temperature nematic liquid crystal (N-3017) mixed with surface-stabilised gold nanoparticles was examined for its thermodynamic, dielectric, and electro-optical properties. The isotropic to nematic transition temperature decreases in both the nanocomposites as compared to that of the pure nematic material, according to thermodynamic findings. In the frequency range of 1 Hz to 40 MHz, dielectric data of both the dispersed nanocomposites in homeotropic and planar aligned samples are collected. The dispersion of capped GNPs enhanced the dielectric anisotropy of the dispersed nanocomposites, according to the dielectric results. As the quantity of capped GNPs in the host matrix increases, the threshold voltage for LC reorientation decreases due to the decreased elastic constant and increased dielectric anisotropy. The dielectric study also signifies a prominent relaxation mode due to the flip-flop motion of the nematic molecules about their short axes. To analyse this mode, experimental data have been fitted with the modified Cole-Cole equation. This removes the parasitic effects in the low- and high-frequency domains.

Automated summary

This study examines the thermodynamic, dielectric, and electro-optical properties of a room temperature nematic liquid crystal mixed with surface-stabilized gold nanoparticles. The results show that the addition of nanoparticles decreases the transition temperature of the liquid crystal and enhances its dielectric anisotropy. The study also identifies a relaxation mode in the dielectric behavior, caused by the flip-flop motion of the nematic molecules.