Effect of the chiral chain length on structural and phase properties of ferroelectric liquid crystals

Studies of structural and phase properties obtained on several ferroelectric liquid crystalline materials with 2-alkoxypropionate group used as a chiral centre and without any lateral substitution are presented. In dependence on the chiral chain length these compounds exhibit the cholesteric N* phase, the ferroelectric smectic C* and a low-temperature SmX phase. Values of the spontaneous polarization and spontaneous tilt angle have been determined within the whole range of the SmC* phase. A low-temperature SmX phase has been identified as the orthogonal hexatic SmB* phase. The molecular parameters, namely the layer spacing in the SmC* and SmB* phases and the average intermolecular distances (D) between neighbouring parallel molecules in all investigated phases have been determined using the results of the X-ray diffraction obtained on non-oriented samples. The effect of the chiral chain length on mesomorphic, structural and physical properties of the studied ferroelectric liquid crystalline materials is discussed.     

Electro-optic and dielectric studies of silica nanoparticle doped ferroelectric liquid crystal in SmC* phase

We present the results based on the electro-optic and dielectric properties of silica nanoparticle (SNP) doped ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) in SmC* phase. Switching time, spontaneous polarization and rotational viscosity decreases with increase in the silica concentration. An improvement in switching time after doping the silica nanoparticle is due to enhancement in anchoring energy exist between silica nanoparticle and ferroelectric liquid crystal. We noticed that the dielectric permittivity and dielectric strength decreases with increasing the concentration of silica nanoparticle in SmC* phase. Relaxation frequency increases with increasing the silica concentration and temperature in SmC* and decreases as we approaches towards transition temperature.     

Influence of silica nanoparticles on dielectric spectroscopy and polarization switching responses of novel ferroelectric liquid crystals

Silica (SiO₂) nanoparticles in different wt/wt% ratios were dispersed in a novel room temperature ferroelectric liquid crystal mixture. Dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (50 Hz–1 MHz) and electro-optic responses were investigated. Dielectric permittivity gradually decreases by about 40% up to 1 kHz with increasing SiO₂ concentration in the chiral smectic C phase. However, an increase of up to 1.5% has been observed for all the silica-doped samples above 2 kHz. We noticed an increase in optical transmission with increasing SiO₂ concentration from 0.01 to 0.1 wt/wt%.     

Changes in material parameters for dye-doped ferroelectric liquid crystal

Addition of the dichroic anthraquinone dye molecules in pure ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) matrix results in many improvement in the various vital parameters of the pure FLC. However, addition of anthraquinone dye molecules in pure FLC matrix is not advantageous every time. There are certain constraints which are crucial for the application of these systems into many devices. In this article, we have discussed the concentration and temperature dependence of vital properties of dye-doped FLC. In this study there is improvement in contrast ratio by dye doping due to enhancement in plane switching for dye-doped FLC.     

Dielectric and electro-optical studies of a nickel-ferrite-nanoparticle- doped ferroelectric liquid crystal mixture

Effect of magnetic nanoparticles (nickel ferrite) doping on the dielectric and electro-optical properties of a ferroelectric liquid crystal mixture has been studied. In a doped ferroelectric liquid crystal mixture, dispersion of a small amount (0.25 wt.%) of nickel ferrite nanoparticles decreases the polarization and improves the response time compared to an undoped mixture. The significant changes in the polarization and response time are explained on the basis of dipole–dipole interaction and anchoring phenomena. Dielectric permittivity also increases with increasing the temperature of the SmC* phase and shows a reduction in dielectric loss in a doped sample. A Goldstone mode is clearly observed at ～200 and ～500 Hz in an undoped and a doped sample, respectively.     

Effect of gamma irradiation on hydrothermally synthesized barium titanate nanoparticles

The effect of gamma irradiation on hydrothermally synthesized BaTiO₃ nanoparticles has been investigated. Gamma irradiation was carried out at room temperature from 0, 50, 100, 150, 200?kGy to a maximum dose up to 250?kGy, source being ⁶⁰Co gamma radiations. The structure, size and chemical changes of the BaTiO₃ were studied using X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectrophotometry (FTIR) techniques and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The optical band gap has been computed by UV–Visible spectroscopy data. From the results obtained, it is evident that the gamma irradiation increases the crystallinity, whereas the particle size of BaTiO₃ nanoparticles is altered. UV–Visible spectroscopy shows a noticeable change in the energy band gap due to gamma irradiation. Significant changes in anharmonicity constant computed using FTIR data due to irradiation has been observed. SEM shows the size and deviation from uniformity of particles.     

New antiferroelectric liquid crystal for use in LCD

In this work, the physical properties of newly synthesized liquid crystalline compound exhibiting two liquid crystalline phases (ferroelectric and antiferroelectric) were studied. Based on the results of differential scanning calorimetry, polarizing microscopy, and photoelastic modulator methods, the temperature dependences of spontaneous polarization, tilt angle, switching time, and birefringence in the ferroelectric, as well as antiferroelectric phases were determined. Furthermore, the influence of the external electric field on the liquid crystalline textures was studied and the phase sequences at heating and cooling were revealed. The temperature dependence of spontaneous polarization was analysed by means of Landau mean-field theory, and the critical parameter β obtained for ferroelectric liquid crystalline and isotropic liquid transition was 0.21 which is close to 0.25, the value characteristic for tri-critical point.     

Influences of nanoparticles and chain length on thermodynamic and electrical behavior of fluorine liquid crystals

Hydrogen-bonded polar nematic liquid crystal series with the general formula nOBAF (n = 7—12) is studied. The mesomorphic characterization is demonstrated through differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarized optical microscopy (POM). The complexes with short alkyl chains (n=7, 8) present a wide nematic range and monotropic smectic F mesophase, whereas the longer alkyl chain (n=10—12) analogues show high melting and low clearing mesomorphic liquid crystals. The thermal range of the mesophase and the birefringence increase with chain length decreasing. Furthermore, the effect of the nanoparticles (LiNbO₃) on the thermal and the electrical behavior of 8OBAF are investigated. The presence of LiNbO₃ nanoparticles increases the conductivity and reduces the resistivity of the complex.     

Combined effect of the transition layer and interfacial coupling on the properties of ferroelectric bilayer film

Within the framework of modified Ginzburg--Landau--Devonshire phenomenological theory, a ferroelectric bilayer film with a transition layer within each constituent film and an interfacial coupling between two materials has been studied. Properties including the Curie temperature and the spontaneous polarization of a bilayer film composed of two equally thick ferroelectric constituent films are discussed. The results show that the combined effect of the transition layer and the interfacial coupling plays an important role in explaining the interesting behaviour of ferroelectric multilayer structures consisting of two ferroelectric materials.     

Influence of thermal treatment on the dynamics of the Goldstone mode in ferroelectric liquid crystal gel

ABSTRACT

Broadband dielectric spectroscopy was applied to investigate the effect of gel-former agent on the dynamics of the collective modes in a ferroelectric liquid crystal mixture. In the investigated range of gel concentrations, the dynamics of the Goldstone mode is significantly reduced due to the formation of a hydrogen bonding network of the gel-former agent in ferroelectric liquid crystal. The observed changes in dynamics of the collective processes are sensitive to the history of the thermal treatment of the samples.     

Effect of polymer relaxation on dielectric spectroscopic study of polymer–ferroelectric liquid crystal composites

Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and ferroelectric liquid crystal (P–FLC) composite films (~ 4 μm) with varying proportions of ferroelectric liquid crystal have been prepared and the dielectric response of the composite films as a function of wide frequency (100 Hz–10 MHz) and temperature (127–40 °C) have been analyzed. The dielectric spectra of such composite systems are considerably modified compared to those of the corresponding pure LC or PMMA materials. The observed paraelectric to ferroelectric transition temperature of the composites is found to be lower (~ 85 °C) compared to that of the pure LC system (~ 98 °C), which makes these composites technologically more significant. The P–FLC composites also exhibit higher relaxation frequency and smaller dielectric strength for the Goldstone mode compared to those of the corresponding pure FLC. Depending on the percentage of the constitute materials, the molecular dynamics of the composite materials changes. Dielectric contributions of both liquid crystal and PMMA matrix forming the composites have been analyzed on the basis of Havriliak and Negami function.     

铁电液晶螺旋结构的理论近似研究

由铁电液晶（FLC）手性近晶C相下螺旋结构的理论近似计算得出FLC一个螺距内平均折射率的表达式,根据表达式可得出一个螺距内的FLC分子作为一个整体可以看成一个向列相液晶分子模型的结论.当FLC沿螺旋轴方向的厚度等于FLC螺距的整数倍时,液晶盒内垂直取向的FLC分子可看作向列相液晶模型组成的集合.ZLI-3654型FLC与5CB型向列相液晶的实验结果验证了上述结论,理论结果和实验结果一致.这一理论可为畸变螺旋FLC和垂直排列畸变螺旋FLC器件的制备以及FLC的应用提供理论指导和更深的认识. 关键词： 铁电液晶 螺距 平均折射率 向列相液晶     

静水压下锆锡钛酸铅铁电陶瓷相变和介电性能研究

研究了铌掺杂锆锡钛酸铅铁电陶瓷Pb_0.99Nb_0.02[(Zr_0.90Sn_0.10)_0.96Ti_0.04]_0.98O₃(PZST 90/10-4-2Nb)在静水压(0-300 MPa)下的电荷释放量和介电性能. 对压力诱导的低温铁电三方(F_R(LT))→反铁电正交(A_O)相变进行了研究. PZST 90/10-4-2Nb铁电陶瓷分为未极化、极化和压力去极化三种. 极化PZST 90/10-4-2Nb陶瓷F_R(LT)→A_O相变过程中,电荷释放量为29.3 μC/cm²,相变压力为140 MPa. 介电性能表明:极化PZST 90/10-4-2Nb陶瓷相变压力为136 MPa,而未极化陶瓷相变压力为104 MPa,压力去极化陶瓷未表现出明显的相变特征. 关键词： 静水压 铁电陶瓷 相变 介电     

Optimized growth and dielectric properties of barium titanate thin films on polycrystalline Ni foils

Barium titanate(BTO) thin films were deposited on polycrystalline Ni foils by using the polymer assisted deposition(PAD) technique.The growth conditions including ambient and annealing temperatures were carefully optimized based on thermal dynamic analysis to control the oxidation processing and interdiffusion.Crystal structures,surface morphologies,and dielectric performance were examined and compared for BTO thin films annealed under different temperatures.Correlations between the fabrication conditions,microstructures,and dielectric properties were discussed.BTO thin films fabricated under the optimized conditions show good crystalline structure and promising dielectric properties with εr～ 400 and tan δ < 0.025 at 100 kHz.The data demonstrate that BTO films grown on polycrystalline Ni substrates by PAD are promising in device applications.     

Effect of multi-walled carbon nanotubes on dielectric and electro-optic properties of a high tilt antiferroelectric liquid crystal

By dispersing a small amount of multi-walled carbon nanotubes in a high tilt antiferroelectric liquid crystal, a nano composite is prepared. Though the phase sequence remains the same, the transition temperatures of the composite get changed, the stability of SmA* and SmC* phases increases whereas that of SmC_A* phase decreases. Pitch of the helicoidal structure shows a discontinuous change at SmC*–SmC_A* transition. Absorption strength and critical frequency of the anti-phase antiferroelectric mode are reduced in the composite. The dielectric increment of the Goldstone mode (GM) decreases and the critical frequency increases due to increased elasticity of the composite. A two-fold increase in the critical field for suppression of the GM is observed which signifies more stable helical structure in the composite. The switching time is reduced by 56% in the nano composite as a result of decrease in rotational viscosity but the high tilt remains intact. An observed lower value of conductivity indicates ion trapping in the composite.     

Dielectric investigation on some binary mixtures of hockey-stick-shaped liquid crystal and octyloxy-cyanobiphenyl

We report the measurement of temperature-dependent dielectric parameters in some binary liquid crystal mixtures comprising of a hockey-stick-shaped mesogen 4-(3-decyloxyphenyliminomethyl) phenyl-4-decyloxycinnamate (SF7) and calamitic compound 4′-octyloxy-4-cyanobiphenyl (8OCB). All the investigated mixtures possess a large positive dielectric anisotropy (Δε), although a noticeable reduction has been found by increasing the diverse-shaped dopant concentration. Investigation on the pretransitional behavior in the vicinity of isotropic to nematic (I–N) phase transition suggesting a tricritical character for all the studied mixtures. Parameterization of dielectric permittivity close to the nematic to smectic-A (N–Sm-A) phase transition exhibits non-universal values of the critical exponents describing a second-order nature of the transition. Systematic variation of critical exponents against dopant concentration and McMillan ratio reveals a well consistency with those obtained from the high-resolution optical birefringence measurements.     

基于电路级模型的二维铁电液晶系统结构参数研究

提出将电路级模拟器扩展应用到二维铁电液晶(FLC)的光电混合系统。依照铁电液晶的理论模型建立等效电路,通过调整时序脉冲及驱动源波形,灵活地控制晶胞厚度、面积、粘滞系数、入射偏振角和自发极化强度等典型参数,实现了开关响应特性的动态模拟。比较铁电液晶与扭曲向列型液晶(TN)显示盒的差异。结果表明,该技术方法不仅适用于FLC结构参数指标的优化,而且对于其它集成光学器件的仿真技术研究也是一种有益地探索。     

Phase polymorphism and electro-optical properties of a ferroelectric liquid crystal containing the biphenyl system

ABSTRACT

In this article we present results concerning phase transitions and physical properties of the ferroelectric phase of the compound (S)-4-(1-methylheptyloxy)biphenyl–4'-(heptyloxy phenyl)-4-carboxylate (MHOBOPO7). The compound has the following phases: smectic ferroelectric C (SmC*), chiral nematic N*, and two defected phases, TGB_C and blue phase. The mesomorphic properties were investigated by means of three complementary methods: differential scanning calorimetry, polarizing light optical microscopy, and transmitted light intensity. The electro-optical measurements were carried out on an ordered sample in a middle electric field during very slow cooling from the nematic phase to the ferroelectric phase.