TY - JOUR
T1 - Crystallographic phase induced electro-optic properties of nanorod blend nematic liquid crystal
AU - Kundu, Sudarshan
AU - Hill, Jonathan P.
AU - Richards, Gary J.
AU - Ariga, Katsuhiko
AU - Khan, Ali Hossain
AU - Thupakula, Umamahesh
AU - Acharya, Somobrata
PY - 2011/9
Y1 - 2011/9
N2 - Ultrasmall ZnS or PbS nanorods encapsulated in fluid-like soft organic surfactants show excellent miscibility in the nematic liquid crystal (LC ZLI-4792) host resulting in a novel soft matter type blend with enhanced electro-optic properties. The ultranarrow ZnS rods are of wurtzite phase and possess a chemical bipolarity and a net dipole moment. The centrosymmetric ultranarrow PbS rods possess a finite size and shape dependent inherent dipole moment despite their cubic rocksalt structure. When an electric field is applied, the blend aligns along the direction of the field producing a local unidirectional orientation of the rods and LC directors, and defining a unique axis for the system. The local ordering significantly affects the global ordering of the blend allowing a more rapid response of the electro-optic properties. The degree and switching speed of the blends depend upon the magnitude of dipole moments present in the dopant nanorods. We show how a non-mesogenic element designed with preferential crystallographic phase can be introduced within a LC for improvement of the switching properties of the LC blend. These types of unique blends are a model for fundamental conceptual advances in general understanding of interaction behaviour leading consequently to a significant technological advancement for superior device fabrication.
AB - Ultrasmall ZnS or PbS nanorods encapsulated in fluid-like soft organic surfactants show excellent miscibility in the nematic liquid crystal (LC ZLI-4792) host resulting in a novel soft matter type blend with enhanced electro-optic properties. The ultranarrow ZnS rods are of wurtzite phase and possess a chemical bipolarity and a net dipole moment. The centrosymmetric ultranarrow PbS rods possess a finite size and shape dependent inherent dipole moment despite their cubic rocksalt structure. When an electric field is applied, the blend aligns along the direction of the field producing a local unidirectional orientation of the rods and LC directors, and defining a unique axis for the system. The local ordering significantly affects the global ordering of the blend allowing a more rapid response of the electro-optic properties. The degree and switching speed of the blends depend upon the magnitude of dipole moments present in the dopant nanorods. We show how a non-mesogenic element designed with preferential crystallographic phase can be introduced within a LC for improvement of the switching properties of the LC blend. These types of unique blends are a model for fundamental conceptual advances in general understanding of interaction behaviour leading consequently to a significant technological advancement for superior device fabrication.
KW - Blend
KW - Electro-optic properties
KW - Nematic liquid crystal
KW - Ultranarrow ZnS and PbS Nanorods
KW - Wurtzite and rock-salt crystallographic phases
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84863410263&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84863410263&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1166/jnn.2011.4718
DO - 10.1166/jnn.2011.4718
M3 - Article
C2 - 22097480
AN - SCOPUS:84863410263
VL - 11
SP - 7729
EP - 7734
JO - Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
JF - Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
SN - 1533-4880
IS - 9
ER -