Magnified charge carrier conduction, permittivity, and mesomorphic properties of columnar structure of a room temperature discotic liquid crystalline material due to the dispersion of low concentration ferroelectric nanoparticles

Liquid crystal nanocomposites have been a hot topic of research due to optimization of physical properties with such blending. There are several reports on enhancement of physical properties of nematic liquid crystals due to the blending of the nanomaterials. L. M. Lopatina and J. V. Selinger [Phys Rev. Lett. 102, 197802 (2009)] have even proposed a theory based on experimental results for the enhancement of the properties of the nematic mesophase in the presence of ferroelectric nanoparticles. However, discotic liquid crystal nanocomposites are less studied. In the present experimental work, we have studied the effect of ferroelectric (BaTiO3) nanoparticles on a room temperature discotic liquid crystalline material, namely 1,5-dihydroxy-2,3,6,7-tetrakis(3,7-dimethyloctyloxy)-9,10-anthraquinone. We investigated the physical properties of low concentration ferroelectric nanoparticle dispersed discotic columnar structure, using calorimetric, optical, x-ray diffraction, and dielectric spectroscopy tools. Results show that inclusion of ferroelectric nanoparticles in the discotic matrix consolidates the stability of the columnar matrix of the Col h phase by virtue of their ferroic nature. An enhancement in charge carrier conductivity by several orders of magnitude at ambient conditions has been observed which makes such systems highly appropriate for one-dimensional conductors. Low concentration of BaTiO3 nanoparticles substantially enhanced permittivity of the system also. A molecular relaxation mode has been observed in the middle frequency range of the dielectric spectra. Enhancement of these important parameters could be possible due to the ferroelectric nature of the dispersed nanoparticles.