Textural, thermal, optical and electrical properties of Iron nanoparticles dispersed 4′-(Hexyloxy)-4-biphenylcarbonitrile liquid crystal mixture

Abstract

ABSTRACTIn this work, the effect of Iron nanoparticles (Fe NPs) dispersion in 4′-(Hexyloxy)-4-biphenylcarbonitrile (6OCB) nematic liquid crystal properties has been studied. Inclusion of Fe NPs (0.25 wt. %) in 6OCB liquid crystal (LC) on textures, isotropic–nematic transition temperature (TI–N), electro-optical and dielectric properties have been investigated in planar aligned cell. The threshold voltage (Vth) and TI–N decrease after dispersion of Fe NPs. Dielectric spectroscopy in nematic phase show that relaxation frequency (fr) also decreases after dispersion of Fe NPs in 6OCB. The observed relaxation mode is due to the flip-flop motion of LC molecules about their short axis. The band gap and AC conductivity in case of 6OCB-Fe sample increase over pure 6OCB sample. A decrease in activation energy is also noticed.