Mechanism of electrooptic switching time enhancement in ferroelectric liquid crystal/gold nanoparticles dispersion

• Published in: Liquid crystals Vol. 45; no. 11; pp. 1594 - 1602
• Main Authors: Podgornov, F. V., Gavrilyak, M., Karaawi, A., Boronin, V., Haase, W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis 02.09.2018; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Crystal structure; Crystals; Dipole interactions; Dipoles; Dispersion; Electric potential; equivalent electric circuit; Ferroelectric liquid crystals; Ferroelectric materials; Ferroelectricity; Gold; gold nanoparticles; Liquid crystals; Nanoparticles; Nanospheres; Response time; rotational viscosity; Structural members; Switching; Viscosity; Voltage drop
• ISSN: 0267-8292; 1366-5855
• DOI: 10.1080/02678292.2018.1458256

It is well established that incorporation of nanoparticles (NPs) in the structure of ferroelectric liquid crystals (FLCs) leads to a decrease in their electrooptic response time. Several approaches have been suggested to explain this effect (decrease in rotational viscosity of FLCs, ions enhanced localised electric field, dipole-dipole interaction among NPs and FLC molecules, FLC ordering). In this article, we will report the role of the voltage divider formed by the structural elements of a FLC cell based on ferroelectric liquid crystal/gold nanospheres (FLC/GNSs) dispersion in enhancement of the switching time. Using the impedance spectroscopic measurements, it was demonstrated that the dispersing of GNSs leads to the increase in the voltage drop on FLC/GNSs layer in comparison with the pristine FLC one. Consequently, the electrooptic response time of the FLC/GNSs cell is faster than that of the pristine one. However, the rotational viscosity of the FLC does not depend on the presence of the GNSs.