Nematic Liquid Crystal Sample Research Articles

Nematic liquid crystal dispersed with two-dimensional functionalised graphene oxide (fGO): insights on improving the nematic ordering and reducing electro-optic response time

ABSTRACT Doping a nematic liquid crystal (NLC) with nanoparticles (NPs) of varied dimensions and properties to form LC-NP nanocomposites with improved electro-optic and dielectric properties has recently been a much-explored field of work. But still, NLC nanocomposites based on two-dimensional (2D) NPs have not been studied vividly because of the high tendency of 2D NPs to aggregate together. In the present work, we have studied the effect of incorporating hexadecanethiol functionalised graphene oxide (fGO), a 2D NP, in a conventional NLC medium under varying doping concentrations. We found that at a lower doping concentration (⁓10−4 wt.%), the NLC nanocomposite showed a substantial increase in dielectric anisotropy (Δε) and birefringence (Δµ) values as compared to pure NLC sample. A significant decrease (⁓50%) in ionic conductivity as well as reduced electro-optic response time (⁓75%) was also observed in this NLC nanocomposite. As the fGO doping concentration was increased (⁓10−2 wt.%), a reverse trend was observed for Δε, Δµ and response time values, which declined sharply with increasing doping concentration. Hence, the present work highlights two different working mechanisms at low- and high-doping concentrations of 2D NPs.

Morphology and line tension of twist disclinations in a nematic liquid crystal.

We deploy optical microscopy with and without an applied magnetic field to characterize the three-dimensional morphology and measure the line tension of twist disclinations in twisted nematic liquid crystal (LC) sample cells. Twist disclinations are generated by quenching the LC, 5CB (4-cyano-4'-pentylbiphenyl), into the nematic phase; 5CB is confined between substrates with in-plane anchoring directions perpendicular to one another. The disclinations form loops separating domains of opposite twist handedness. Many segments of these loops are pinned to the substrates, and the ends of some pinned segments connect to free disclination segments that penetrate into the bulk nematic. We use confocal microscopy to measure the profiles of these free disclinations and test theoretical predictions about their shape, yielding a lower bound of ∼32 nm for the disclination core radius. We then use an applied magnetic field to deform the free disclinations into circular arcs whose curvature increases with magnetic field strength and depends on the field-induced energy difference between opposite twist domains. The line tension of the disclinations is derived from an energy-balance equation that relates disclination curvature to magnetic field. The measured line tension increases logarithmically with sample cell thickness; it ranges from 75 to 200 pN in samples with thickness spanning from 6 to 27 μm. In total, the investigation introduces new non-invasive methodologies for studies of defects in LCs, and it provides new information about the line tension and character of isolated twist disclinations, thereby testing theory and laying experimental foundation for the study of ensembles of disclinations.

Impact of red emissive ZnCdTeS quantum dots on the electro-optic switching, dielectric and electrochemical features of nematic liquid crystal: Towards tunable optoelectronic systems

In the present study, the concentration-dependent dielectric, electro-optical, and electrochemical properties of ZnCdTeS quantum dots (QDs) doped E7 nematic liquid crystal (NLC) mixtures were investigated. The dielectric permittivity components (ε‖ and ϵꓕ) and dielectric anisotropy (Δϵ = ε‖ ˗ ϵꓕ) of NLC samples containing varied concentrations of ZnCdTeS QDs (i. e. 0.10, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 1 wt%) were measured at various temperatures. In the nematic phase, the results demonstrated that ε‖ increases much more than ϵꓕ upon an increase in the concentration of ZnCdTeS QDs. Δϵ enhanced as the concentration of QDs increased, reaching a maximum at 0.50 wt%, then decreased with further addition. Dielectric measurements revealed the formation of self-aligned QD arrays along the nematic director, which act similarly to multiple parallel capacitors in the NLC system. Moreover, electro-optical studies illustrated the significant effect of QDs doping on lowering the threshold voltage and response time. Interestingly, the optical switching-off time of NLC containing 0.50 wt% of the QDs decreased by ∼50% compared to that of the pure E7 sample. The reduced screening effect resulting from the QDs ion-capturing mechanism, enhanced effective intermolecular interactions, and increased dielectric anisotropy in the NLC system are the major factors responsible for the improved electro-optical characteristics. The impedance behavior of NLC cells was studied in the frequency range of 0.1 Hz–100 kHz. It indicated that the addition of ZnCdTeS QDs results in a remarkable increase of 96% in the electrical conductivity of the NLC system. Furthermore, the QDs doping significantly improved the NLC device's charge capacitance. Such studies would undoubtedly be beneficial for designing next-generation tunable optoelectronic systems since QDs can be utilized for tuning the dielectric anisotropy, electro-optical characteristics, charge capacitance, and conductivity of NLCs.

Neural networks determination of material elastic constants and structures in nematic complex fluids

Supervised machine learning and artificial neural network approaches can allow for the determination of selected material parameters or structures from a measurable signal without knowing the exact mathematical relationship between them. Here, we demonstrate that material nematic elastic constants and the initial structural material configuration can be found using sequential neural networks applied to the transmmited time-dependent light intensity through the nematic liquid crystal (NLC) sample under crossed polarizers. Specifically, we simulate multiple times the relaxation of the NLC from a random (qeunched) initial state to the equilibirum for random values of elastic constants and, simultaneously, the transmittance of the sample for monochromatic polarized light. The obtained time-dependent light transmittances and the corresponding elastic constants form a training data set on which the neural network is trained, which allows for the determination of the elastic constants, as well as the initial state of the director. Finally, we demonstrate that the neural network trained on numerically generated examples can also be used to determine elastic constants from experimentally measured data, finding good agreement between experiments and neural network predictions.

Contribution of Multiwalled carbon nanotubes to dielectric and elastic properties in E7 nematic liquid crystal

In this article, electrical parameters, and elastic constants of nematic liquid crystal (NLC) contributed multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MCN) are presented by dielectric spectroscopy method. The effects of reorientation on the nematic liquid crystal by doping of multi-walled carbon nanotubes were investigated to reveal. Analyzes of dielectric strength Δε′(ω), absorption coefficient α, relaxation time τ, dielectric anisotropy Δε′V, dielectric anisotropy ratio γ, splay elastic constant K11, and cross-over angular frequency ωco of MCN contribution to E7 nematic liquid crystal with DC supply voltage are presented. Reorientation of elastic dipolar liquid crystal molecules was demonstrated by reducing the positive type (p type) dielectric anisotropy value in the broadband angular frequency range with the MCN contribution to the E7 coded nematic liquid crystal. The supply voltage applied to the NLC samples was observed to have nearly Debye-type relaxation mechanism in the host E7 LC structure, tending to switch to a Debye-type relaxation mechanism by MCN doping. Dipole effects were enhanced by doping of multi-walled carbon nanotubes in the orientation of elastic NLC molecules, and the relaxation time of host E7 NLC and doped MCN/E7 NLC decreased with increasing bias voltages. Cole-Cole analysis with different supply voltages, it has been seen that it turns into a new equivalent circuit depending on the MCN contribution.

Probing shapes of microbes using liquid crystal textures

We propose a novel technique to probe shape of a single microbe embedded in a nematic liquid crystal (NLC) sample by observing geometry of dark brushes with optical microscope using a cross-polarizer set up. Assuming certain anchoring conditions for the NLC director at the surface of the microbe, we determine the resulting shapes of brushes using numerical simulations. Our results suggest that for asymmetrical microbes (such as cylindrical shaped bacteria/viruses), resulting brushes may carry the imprints of this asymmetry (e.g. the aspect ratio of cylindrical shape) at relatively large distances to be able to be seen using simple optical microscopy even for microbe sizes in few tens to few hundred nanometer range.

Role of Magnetic Nanoparticles Size and Concentration on Structural Changes and Corresponding Magneto-Optical Behavior of Nematic Liquid Crystals.

The effect of magnetic nanoparticles size and concentration on nematic liquid crystal (NLC) behavior in a magnetic field was investigated. The magneto-optical investigation using measurements of the light transmission through the liquid crystal was used to study the structural changes induced by an applied weak magnetic field. Magnetic nanoparticles Fe3O4 of spherical shape with different size and volume concentration were added to NLC 4-cyano-40 -hexylbiphenyl (6CB) during its isotropic phase. In contrast to undoped liquid crystals, the distinctive different light transmission responses induced by a magnetic field in studied NLC samples were observed suggesting both structural changes and the orientational coupling between magnetic moments of nanoparticles and the director of the NLC. Experimental measurements were conducted, including investigation under linearly increasing and/or jumped magnetic field, respectively, as well as the investigation of time influence on structural changes to study their stability and switching time. The analysis of observed light transmission characteristics confirmed the role of concentration and size of magnetic nanoparticles on the resultant behavior of investigated NLC compounds. The obtained results showed the lowering of the threshold magnetic field with an increase in the volume concentration of nanoparticles and on the important role of nanoparticles size on stability and switching properties. Obtained results are discussed within the context of previous ones.

Dielectric spectroscopy studies of silver nanorod doped nematic liquid crystal

Dielectric spectroscopy provides information on molecular dynamics as well as on important material parameters such as the static dielectric permittivity (ε) and DC electrical conductivity (σ) of the bulk as well as at the interfaces. In this study, we present the dielectric spectroscopy results of silver nanorod doped nematic liquid crystal (NLC) in the frequency range of 20 Hz to 10 MHz. The relaxation frequencies tend to increase owing to the availability of free volume due to addition of nanorods. However, the conductivity (at 1 kHz) is observed to decrease with the increase in the nanorod concentration until aggregation of nanorods is observed in the NLC host. Dielectric strength of doped NLC samples also increases with increasing concentration of nanorods.

Study of Structural Changes in Nematic Liquid Crystals Doped with Magnetic Nanoparticles Using Surface Acoustic Waves

The surface acoustic waves (SAWs) were used to study the effect of magnetic nanoparticles on nematic liquid crystal (NLC) behavior in weak magnetic and electric fields. The measurement of the attenuation of SAW propagating along the interface between piezoelectric substrate and liquid crystal is showed as an effective tool to study processes of structural changes. The magnetic nanoparticles Fe3O4 of nanorod shape and different low volume concentration were added to the NLC (4-(trans-4′-n-hexylcyclohexyl)-isothiocyanatobenzene (6CHBT)) during its isotropic phase. In contrast to undoped liquid crystals the distinctive different SAW attenuation responses induced by both magnetic and also electric fields in studied NLC samples were observed suggesting both structural changes and the orientational coupling between both magnetic and electric moments of nanoparticles and the director of the NLC molecules. Experimental measurements including the investigation under linearly increasing and/or jumped magnetic and electrical fields, respectively, as well as the investigation of temperature and time influences on structural changes were done. The investigation of the SAW anisotropy gives supplemental information about the internal structure of nanoparticles in investigated NLCs. In addition, some magneto-optical investigations were performed to support SAW results and study their stability and switching time. The analysis of observed SAW attenuation characteristics confirmed the role of concentration of magnetic nanoparticles on the resultant behavior of investigated NLC compounds. Obtained results are discussed within the context of previous ones. The theoretical background of the presented SAW investigation is introduced, too.

Gradient theory of domain walls in thin, nematic liquid crystals films

In this paper, we describe domain walls appearing in a thin, nematic liquid crystal sample subject to an external field with intensity close to the Fréedericksz transition threshold. Using the gradient theory of the phase transition adapted to this situation, we show that depending on the parameters of the system, domain walls occur in the bistable region or at the border between the bistable and the monostable region.

Image Feature Extraction Method to Analyze Soft-Mode Turbulence Fluctuation in Nematic Liquid Crystal

An electroconvective pattern called soft-mode turbulence (SMT) of homeotropic alignment in MBBA (4’-Methoxy-benzylidene-4-butyl-aniline) nematic liquid crystal appears when an external electric field with a certain frequency applied on the nematic liquid crystal sample at a threshold voltage (VSMT). The threshold voltage will increase with increasing of frequency. SMT fluctuation occurs when VSMT continues to increase at the same frequency. This phenomenon can be analized by applying an image processing tecnique. Based on image feature extraction method, inhomogeneity of SMT patterns can be observed through contrast, correlation, energy, homogeneity, and entropy parameters. Those parameters represent a result in accordance with the image visualization. Significant changes in the value of contrast, energy, homogeneity, and entropy parameters occur at V> VSMT which fluctuation begin. In this experiment the fluctuation begin at V = 27.3 V.

Analytical and computer simulation study of molecular ordering of a liquid-crystalline system in annular confinements

The purpose of this research is to investigate the thermodynamical behavior of a nematic liquid crystal sample confined to an annular cylindrical region and subjected to a radial anchoring alignment at the cylinder surfaces. The study is carried out by means of a combination of Monte Carlo simulations and of a theoretical approach based on the Landau–de Gennes formalism. The analytical model shows that the order instabilities cover the whole sample, while from the computer simulation one deduces that these instabilities are evident in a region far from the surfaces while some order remain close to them, and decreases more slowly as the temperature increases.

Enhancement in electro-optic properties of dynamic scattering systems through addition of dichroic dyes

Electro-optic properties of dynamic scattering in homeotropically aligned pure and dichroic dye doped nematic liquid crystal samples are examined. The optical properties of the two systems are quantified using transmission properties of scattered and unscattered as a function of amplitude and frequency of an applied voltage. Auto-correlation of the scattered signal at different applied voltages is used to compare the decay times in the two systems. Lastly, histogram of the scattered signal reveals a wavevector dependent large light scattering event. The dye doped system shows a significant enhancement of light blocking property in both normal and off-axis light propagation. The characteristics of the system are compared to other scattering technologies. The results suggest that dye doped system can overcome shortcomings in scattering based devices used for near eye applications.

Nematic liquid crystal in a cylindrical sample: Theoretical analysis of the electrical response.

The electrical responses of a nematic liquid crystal sample confined between two cylindrical surfaces are investigated in the framework of elastic continuum theory. The responses are the result of the molecular reorientation induced by both the applied electric field and the cylindrical geometry of the sample. The nematic medium is considered as a parallel RC circuit since the capacitance and the resistance are under the same difference of potential. The electrical properties, including the total electric current, are determined from the molecular reorientation of the director. The elastic anisotropy has been shown to influence substantially the profile of the electrical current, capacitance, and resistance characterizing the equivalent circuit for the medium.

Influence of Flexoelectric Effect on Director Alignment of Nematic Liquid Crystals in Axial Arrangement Cylindrical Cells

A positive nematic liquid crystal (5CB) sample is confined in cylindrical cells under strong or weak axial anchoring boundary conditions when a radial nonuniform low-frequency electric field is applied and the flexoelectric effect is taken into account. Based on the Frank elastic free energy, the surface energy of the Rapini–Papoular approximation, the polarization free energy and the flexoelectric free energy caused by electric field, we obtain the free energy density of the nematic and solve the corresponding Euler–Lagrange equation numerically. We investigate the director distribution, the critical voltage and the critical exponent of nematic liquid crystal in cylindrical cells. It follows that the critical exponent is the classical one. It is also shown that the critical voltage in the system is affected by the flexoelectric effect, the geometric effect and radial weak anchoring effect on the cylindrical surfaces. A new type of director transition caused by the flexoelectric effect, the dielectric coupling effect and the radial weak anchoring effect is found.

Plasmonic enhanced low-threshold random lasing from dye-doped nematic liquid crystals with TiN nanoparticles in capillary tubes

We report a plasmonic enhanced low-threshold random lasing from dye-doped nematic liquid crystals with titanium nitride (TiN) nanoparticles (NPDDNLC) in capillary tubes. The NPDDNLC sample yields a coherent random laser with about 0.3 nm in the full width at half maximum (FWHM). We find the laser threshold is decreased by introducing the TiN NPs into the dye-doped nematic liquid crystal sample. The laser threshold decreases with increasing the number density of TiN nanoparticles from 5.613 × 1010/ml to 5.314 × 1011/ml. We suggest that the low-threshold random laser is caused by the cooperative effect of the recurrent multiple scattering and field enhancement in the vicinity of TiN nanoparticles. The localized electric field near the TiN nanoparticles enhances the energy absorption of the dye and strengthens the fluorescence amplification. Moreover, we provide a new parameter (the relative efficiency of the stimulated radiation photons) to quantify the quality of the random laser, and we give expressions for the wavelength, mode, and whole emission spectrum. Finally, we find the emission spectrum depends strongly on the emission angle and we discuss the reasons. These findings provide a simple and efficient way for the realization of low-threshold random lasers with low cost.

Optical diode effect of nematic liquid crystal induced by plasma-treated surface

ABSTRACTWe reported an optical diode effect of a nematic liquid crystal (LC) sample induced by a plasma-treated surface. The LC sample whose one of the substrates was plasma treated transmitted or blocked the incident light depending on the sign of the applied electric field. On the other hand, the LC samples whose both substrates were plasma treated or none of the substrates were plasma treated showed the same transmittance regardless of the sign of the electric field. The optical diode effect was shown when the nematic LC materials contain strong dipole moments, while the same effect was not observed when the weak polar LC was used. A thin polar LC layer formed near the plasma-treated surface makes the net field in the positive and the negative frame to be different, resulting in the optical diode effect.

Elastic anisotropy effects on the electrical responses of a thin sample of nematic liquid crystal

The electrical responses of a nematic liquid crystal cell are investigated by means of the elastic continuum theory. The nematic medium is considered as a parallel circuit of a resistance and a capacitance and the electric current profile across the sample is determined as a function of the elastic constants. In the reorientation process of the nematic director, the resistance and capacitance of the sample are determined by taking into account the elastic anisotropy. A nonmonotonic profile for the current is observed in which a minimum value of the current may be used to estimate the elastic constants values. This scenario suggests a theoretical method to determine the values of the bulk elastic constants in a single planar aligned cell just by changing the direction of applied electrical field and measuring the resulting electrical current.

Perturbed hedgehogs: continuous deformation of point defects in biaxial nematic liquid crystals

A spherically symmetric isolated point defect in a 3D uniaxial nematic liquid crystal sample is often called a {\it radial hedgehog}. We use topological methods to describe local configurations of uniaxial and biaxial states into which a hedgehog naturally deforms under small perturbations: these include the biaxial torus and split core configurations studied in the literature using analytical and numerical methods. The topological results here take no account of the governing physical laws but provide a library of options from which the physics must make a choice.

P‐94: Fast Response Time of Liquid Crystal using a Nanofiber and Polyimide Alignment Mixture

We studied about the electro‐optical properties of nematic liquid crystal samples aligned with a nonofibers (NFs)‐polyimide (PI) mixtures. The sample coated with NFs‐PI mixture showed a faster falling time than the pure PI sample. The falling time of the sample coated with 1 wt% NFs was about 20% faster than the pure PI sample. The elastic constant and the order parameter of the NFs‐PI samples were also larger than the pure PI sample.