Dielectric investigations in the nematic and hexatic smectic B phases of 4-hexyl-4′-[2-(4-isothiocyanatophenyl)ethyl]-1,1′-biphenyl

Temperature-dependent dielectric characterization of 4-hexyl-4′-[2-(4-isothiocyanatophenyl)ethyl]-1,1′-biphenyl (HIEB), which exhibits smectic B and nematic phases, has been carried out over the frequency range of 1 Hz to 10 MHz for homeotropic and planar alignment of sample molecules. This compound shows positive dielectric anisotropy (Δε = ε _∥ ? ε _⊥ > 0) in the nematic (N) phase. One mode of dielectric relaxation showing Arrhenius behaviour has been detected in the hexatic smectic B (SmB) phase. Various electrical parameters, namely, dielectric anisotropy, relaxation frequency and activation energy, have been determined in the N and SmB phases.     

Electrical and dielectric characterization of Au/ZnO/n-Si device depending frequency and voltage

Au/Zn O/n-type Si device is obtained using atomic layer deposition(ALD) for Zn O layer, and some main electrical parameters are investigated, such as surface/interface state(Nss), barrier height(Φb), series resistance(Rs), donor concentration(Nd), and dielectric characterization depending on frequency or voltage. These parameters are acquired by use of impedance spectroscopy measurements at frequencies ranging from 10 k Hz to 1 MHz and the direct current(DC) bias voltages in a range from-2 V to +2 V at room temperature are used. The main electrical parameters and dielectric parameters,such as dielectric constant(ε"), dielectric loss(ε"), loss tangent(tan δ), the real and imaginary parts of electric modulus(M and M), and alternating current(AC) electrical conductivity(σ) are affected by changing voltage and frequency. The characterizations show that some main electrical parameters usually decrease with increasing frequency because charge carriers at surface states have not enough time to fallow an external AC signal at high frequencies, and all dielectric parameters strongly depend on the voltage and frequency especially in the depletion and accumulation regions. Consequently, it can be concluded that interfacial polarization and interface charges can easily follow AC signal at low frequencies.     

Dielectric absorption in mixtures of anisole with some primary alcohols at microwave frequency

Dielectric properties of binary mixtures of anisole with methanol (MeOH), 1-propanol (1-PrOH), 1-butanol (1-BuOH) and 1-heptanol (1-HeOH) over an entire concentration range have been studied at a fixed temperature 40°C. The dielectric constant (ε′) and dielectric loss (ε″) of the binary mixtures of polar liquids have been determined at a microwave frequency of 9.1?GHz. The static dielectric permittivity (ε ₀) of the liquid samples was also determined using a precision LCR meter. Determined values of static dielectric permittivity (ε ₀) and dielectric permittivity (ε*) at 9.1?GHz frequency were used to evaluate relaxation time (τ) and high frequency limit dielectric permittivity (ε _∞). Dielectric parameters were interpreted in terms of molecular interaction between the anisole and alcohol molecules.     

Dielectric relaxation and anisotropy of nematic mixture E-24

The dielectric anisotropy and dispersion of the real and imaginary part of permittivity of commercially important nematic mixture E-24 were investigated in the frequency range from 1 kHz to 10 MHz and temperature range 287-328 K. The measurements in nematic phase indicate Debye-type dispersion with relaxation time of 1.07 μs at 313 K and activation energy 41.01 kcal/mol. The results have been explained by assuming the molecular rotation about the long molecular axis under a hindering nematic potential. The dielectric anisotropy Δε is positive and the mean dielectric permittivity falls with rising temperature. Δε is also used to determine the order parameter for varying temperature.     

Influence of the molecular structure of components on the induction of mesophases in nematic liquid crystal systems

The dielectric properties of nematic liquid crystals (NLC) are studied in the temperature range of mesophase existence with taking into account the peculiarities of the molecular structure of components. The dependence of the ordering parameter and activation energy on the temperature and composition of an LC system are obtained and investigated by analysis of EPR spectra based on the spin relaxation theory. The values of the local viscosity of the systems are estimated within the framework of the hydrodynamic model. The appearance of induced and reentrant mesophases is established. It is shown that in NLC systems with non-center-symmetric molecules the correlation between the activation energy and thermostability should be inverse to that in the Maier-Saupe model.     

Effect of an azo dye (DR1) on the dielectric parameters of a nematic liquid crystal system

 The dielectric parameters and relaxation properties of azo dye (DR1) doped E7 and pure E7 liquid crystal (LC) have been investigated in a wide frequency range of 10 k–10 MHz through the dielectric spectroscopy method at room temperature. Dielectric anisotropy (Δε) property of the LC changes from the positive type to negative type and dielectric anisotropy values decrease with doping of DR1. The relaxation frequency f_r of E7 and E7/DR1 LC was calculated by means of Cole–Cole plots. Influence of bias voltage on the dielectric parameters has also been investigated.     

Thermodielectric bistability in dual frequency nematic liquid crystal

We report on a thermodielectric bistability in dual frequency nematic liquid crystals (LCs) caused by the anisotropic nature of dielectric heating and director reorientation in an electric field. The bistability is a result of the positive feedback loop: director reorientation --> anisotropic dielectric heating --> dielectric anisotrophy --> director reorientation. We demonstrate both experimentally and theoretically that two states with different temperature and director orientation, namely, a cold planar state and a hot homeotropic state coexist in a LC cell for a certain frequency and amplitude range of the applied voltage.     

Dielectric properties of an ytterbium-based nematic liquid-crystal complex

The dielectric properties of an yttrium-based paramagnetic thermotropic nematic liquid-crystal complex have been studied. The conditions for the measurement of the magnitude and sign of the dielectric anisotropy of the mesophase have been determined. The relaxation of the components of the relative permittivity of a macroscopically homogeneously oriented sample has been observed. A high polarity of the metallomesogenic complex has been revealed.     

The effect of side-chain liquid crystalline concentration in liquid crystal on dielectric properties

As liquid crystal (LC), E63 and as doping material, side-chain liquid crystalline polymer (SLCP) were used in this study. In order to observe the effect of SLCP concentration in LC on the dielectric properties in a wide range of frequency and bias voltage, SLCP was doped into E63 with 0 (pure E63), 1 and 10 wt%. The bias voltage and frequency dependence of the dielectric properties of pure E63 and doped mixtures (E63/SCLP) have been investigated using the admittance spectroscopy method (C–V and G/ω–V) in the frequency range of 10 kHz–10 MHz at room temperature. The values of dielectric constant (ε′) and real (M′) and imaginary (M″) parts of electric modulus of the pure E63 and E63/SLCP (1 and 10%) were calculated using the measured admittance values. Moreover, dielectric anisotropy (Δε) was also obtained for each sample as a function of frequency. Results show that the values of dielectric parameters are strong functions of frequency and applied bias voltage depending on the concentration amount. Furthermore, dielectric anisotropy has negative values according to p/n type changing for each sample after a critical frequency value.     

Broadband dielectric dispersion in ferroelectric P(VDF-TrFE) copolymer films

Ferroelectric polyvinylidenefluoride-trifluoroethylene copolymer films with different thicknesses are prepared by a solvent-cast technique, by spin coating, and by a horizontal Langmuir–Blodgett technique respectively. The frequency dependent dielectric permittivity of these films is investigated with varying sample thickness and varying temperature in the ferroelectric as well as in the paraelectric phase. A dielectric relaxation according to a Vogel–Tamman–Fulcher law of the relaxation times is found in all samples. However, the relaxation times extracted from the dielectric permittivity in the frequency range are not consistent with the relaxation times determined from the temperature range. An explanation for this behavior is given by a temperature dependent distribution of relaxation times. Additionally, in thin samples a second relaxation with a weak anomalous temperature dependence, i.e. an increasing relaxation time with increasing temperature, is observed at high frequencies. Detailed investigations show that this behavior can be attributed to an electrode effect.     

Magnetic field effects on the electric modulus properties of nematic mixture E7

The molecular dynamics of the homogeneously aligned nematic liquid crystal mixture E7 subject to a magnetic field has been studied. The dielectric spectra study has revealed a low bias magnetic field effect on the evolution of dielectric relaxation spectra occurred at lower (∼kHz) (δ-relaxation) and higher (∼MHz) (α-relaxation) frequency regions. The complex electric modulus, which converted from experimental dielectric spectra, has been analyzed with theoretical model of Debye relaxation. The obtained fitting parameters of relaxation time and strength of dielectric components are shown to vary systematically with the strength of applied magnetic field. A microscopic molecular dynamic model has been proposed to describe the two-step variation of E7 molecular under the bias magnetic field. The results provide implication for magneto-modulation of liquid crystal molecular dynamics under the bias magnetic field.     

Stability of liquid crystal systems doped with γ-Fe_2O_3 nanoparticles

In order to explore the stability of a liquid crystal(LC) system doped with γ-Fe_2O_3 nanoparticles, the physical properties(clearing point, dielectric properties), electro-optical properties and residual direct-current voltage(RDCV) of the doped LC system were measured and evaluated at different times. First, the temperature was controlled by precision hot stage, and the clearing point temperature of doped LC was observed and measured by a polarized optical microscope. Using a precision LCR meter, we measured the capacitance-voltage curves of the doped LC system at the temperature of 27℃.The dielectric constant of doped LC was calculated by the dualcell capacitance method. Then, the electro-optical properties of the doped LC system were measured. Finally, the RDCV of the doped LC system was measured and calculated. After five months, the parameters of the doped LC system were re-measured and analyzed under the same conditions to evaluate its stability. The experimental results show that, within five months, the clearing point change rate of doped LC is in the range of 0.24%–1.37%, the change of dielectric anisotropy is in the range of 0.035–0.2, the curves of electro-optical properties are basically fitted, and the change rate of saturated RDCV is about 11.2%, which basically indicate that the LC system doped with γ-Fe_2O_3 nanoparticles has good stability.     

Dielectric properties of ten three-ring LC fluorosubstituted isothiocyanates with different mesogenic cores

Results of the static and dynamic dielectric investigations of 10 liquid crystalline compounds consisting of three rings (phenyl or cyclohexyl) with the n-propyl and isothiocyanato terminals, fluoro lateral substitutes, and different bridging groups (CH₂CH₂ and/or COO) are presented. These compounds form the nematic phase in a broad temperature range. The dielectric parameters are analyzed in relation to the chemical and dipole structures of the molecules. The influence of different structural elements such as rings, bridging groups and fluorosubstitution on the dielectric properties is discussed. The relaxation time and activation enthalpy characterizing the molecular rotations around the short axes were determined. In the nematic phase, the compounds having two fluorine atoms at the lateral positions exhibit a crossover of the principal permittivity components within the megahertz frequency range. This makes them interesting from the application point of view as the so-called dual frequency materials.     

Frequency and temperature dependence of the dielectric parameters of wide temperature range TGBA and TGBC* phases of unsymmetrical liquid crystal dimers

In the present work we have carried out frequency and temperature dependent dielectric studies of an optically active dimeric compound, 4-n-undecyloxy-4′-(cholesteryloxycarbonyl-1-butyloxy)chalcone which shows wide temperature range twist grain boundary (TGB) phases namely TGBA and TGBC*. Dielectric permittivities and DC conductivities have been determined along and normal to the TGB helix axes. Two weak collective modes of dielectric relaxations have been detected for the planar oriented sample where permittivity is measured normal to the long axes of the molecules (but along the TGB helix axis). One mode, which exists in the MHz region, has behavior similar to those of the soft mode due to the amplitude fluctuation. The second one exists in the low frequency region (～100 Hz) and appears due to phase fluctuation as happens in the case of Goldstone mode. Sample confined between electrodes treated for the homeotropic alignment (permittivity measured normal to the helix axis) does not show any mode of relaxation in the frequency range of 1 Hz to 1 MHz. Measured permittivities suggest negative dielectric anisotropy for the system.     

Abnormal switching behavior of nanoparticle composite systems

We have investigated the properties of liquid crystals (LCs) doped with ZnO (8% Cu doped) nanoparticles. The electro-optic properties of LCs have changed with varying concentration of ZnO nanoparticles. The dielectric anisotropy obtained from the values of dielectric permittivity at 5 kHz in the nematic and smectic phases was found to increase with increasing concentration of nanoparticles in LCs. It has been established that the effect of nanoparticles on the dielectric anisotropy depends on the physical properties of LCs; the nanoparticle disturbs the orientation ordering of LC molecules. The nanoparticle also influences the switching behavior, splay elastic constant, rotational viscosity and threshold voltage of pure LCs. A small quantity of nanoparticles causes slight reduction of the splay elastic constant and rotational viscosity of LC cells.     

多铁材料Bi1-xCaxFeO3的介电、铁磁特性和高温磁相变

采用溶胶凝胶法制备Bi_1-xCa_xFeO₃ (x=0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2)陶瓷样品. X衍射图谱表明所有样品的主衍射峰均与纯相BiFeO₃相符合且具有良好的晶体结构. 随着x的增大, Bi_1-xCa_xFeO₃样品的主衍射峰由双峰(104)与(110) 逐渐重叠为单峰(110), 当x ≥0.15时, 样品呈现正方晶系结构; 扫描电镜形貌分析可知, 晶粒由原来的0.5 μm逐渐增大到2 μm. Bi_1-xCa_xFeO₃样品介电常数和介电损耗随着x 的增加先增大而后减小. 当f=1 kHz, Bi_0.9Ca_0.1FeO₃ 的介电常数达到最大值, 是BiFeO₃的7.5倍, 而Bi_0.8Ca_0.2FeO₃的介电常数达到最小值, 仅仅是BiFeO₃的十分之一. Bi_1-xCa_xFeO₃样品所呈现的介电特性是由偶极子取向极化和空间电荷限制电流两种极化机理共同作用的结果. 随着Ca²⁺ 的引入, BiFeO₃ 样品的铁磁性显著提高. X射线光电子能谱图表明Fe²⁺和Fe³⁺ 共存于Bi_1-xCa_xFeO₃ 样品中, Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺比例随着Ca²⁺ 掺杂量的增加而增大, 证明Ca²⁺掺杂增加了Fe²⁺的含量, 增强BiFeO₃的铁磁特性. 从M-T曲线观察到BiFeO₃样品在878 K附近发生铁磁相变, 示差扫描量热法测试再次证明BiFeO₃ 在878 K发生相变. Ca²⁺掺杂使BiFeO₃样品的T_N略有变化而T_M基本不变, 其主要原因是Fe-O-Fe反铁磁超交换作用的强弱和磁结构相对稳定.     

Effect of external electric field on crystalline structure and dielectric properties of Bi_(1.5)MgNb_(1.5)O_7 thin films

Bismuth-based cubic pyrochlore materials have attractive dielectric properties, especially dielectric tunability. The Bi_(1.5)MgNb_(1.5)O_7 ceramic samples were prepared by solid state reaction. The XRD results and SEM pictures prove the raw material are well mixed and co-fired and the BMN cubic pyrochlore is well crystallized, no second phase was found in the result. BMN thin film were fabricated by depositing BMN ceramic nanoparticles on the sapphire. The BMN thin film has a high dielectric tunability of 43% at a bias voltage of 1.5 MV/cm, with loss tangent lower than 0.009. A Raman study of BMN cubic pyrochlore reveals O′–A–O′and O–A–O bending modes contribute to 80% of dielectric permittivity,obstructing these modes such as applying external electric field can have apparent influence on dielectric constant. Berry Phase calculation results shows that A_2 O′tetrahedrons are more easy to distort under an external field. The A-site Mg have the highest displacement(0.765028 ?), followed by A-site Bi cations(0.346317 ?). Compared to zero-bias thin film,the biased one with A–O and A–O′bonds being stretched and external coulomb force applied on cations and anions, the dielectric constant under bias field dramatically decreased.     

Pretransitional dielectric properties of nematogenic 4-cyanophenyl-4′-n-heptylbenzoate

This article presents results of the static and dynamic dielectric studies performed for mesogenic 4-cyanophenyl-4′-n-heptylbenzoate in the isotropic (I) and nematic (N) phases. Pretransitional phenomena are observed in the vicinity of I–N phase transition as an anomalous temperature behavior of both the static and the dynamic dielectric properties of the compound. The temperature dependence of the static permittivity is correlated with the entropy change induced by the probing electric field while an anomalous behavior of the dielectric relaxation directly points out for a subdiffusional Brownian rotation of mesogenic molecules in the vicinity of the phase transition.     

Dielectric relaxation spectroscopy of guest-host ferroelectric liquid crystals: influence of anthraquinone dye

The dielectric spectroscopy of a short pitch and high spontaneous polarization ferroelectric liquid crystal mixture and its guest-host derivatives with different wt/wt ratio of anthraquinone blue dichroic dye has been studied over a wide frequency range of 50 Hz-1 MHz. The increase in dye concentration results in the decrease of the permittivity of the material in the SmC* phase, however, an opposite effect is observed in the SmA phase. The influence of bias voltage on the dielectric parameters has also been investigated. A new relaxation mode has been observed with a relaxation frequency of ∼300 kHz and dielectric strength of ∼5 at room temperature.     

Dielectric properties of antiferroelectric liquid crystals composed of banana-like molecules

The dielectric properties of an antiferroelectric B₂ phase representing a homolog (n=14) from a series of 4-chloro-1,3-phenylene-bis[4-(4-n-alkylphenyl)aminobenzoates] with banana-like molecules were studied. The temperature dependence of the dielectric relaxation time was measured, and the corresponding activation energy was determined. The kinetics of the dielectric permittivity was studied in the course of the polarization vector variation under the action of a low-slope triangular bias voltage in the entire temperature range of existence of the B₂ phase. Dependence of the dielectric permittivity on the electric field strength (bias voltage) is determined by the presence of two polar subsystems forming the antiferroelectric B₂ phase.