Decrease in the threshold of electric Freedericksz transition in nematic liquid crystals doped with ferroelectric nanoparticles

Abstract

A phenomenological theory of electric Freedericksz transition in planar-oriented nematic liquid crystals doped with spherical ferroelectric nanoparticles is considered. It is shown that even spherical nanoparticles can critically reduce the threshold of Freedericksz transition, due to their ability to strongly increase the electric field in the medium. At higher values of polarization and concentration of nanoparticles a Freedericksz transition without threshold can occur. In this case only an insignificant electric field needs for orienting the nanoparticles.