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Unprecedented Dual Alignment Mode and Freedericksz Transition in Planar Nematic Liquid Crystal Cells Doped with Gold Nanoclusters
Author(s) -
Qi H.,
Kinkead B.,
Hegmann T.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.200701327
Subject(s) - homeotropic alignment , liquid crystal , materials science , nanoclusters , fréedericksz transition , planar , anisotropy , doping , dielectric , condensed matter physics , optoelectronics , electric field , nanotechnology , optics , quantum mechanics , computer graphics (images) , physics , computer science
We demonstrate that alkylthiol‐capped gold nanoclusters doped into nematic liquid crystals (N‐LCs) with positive dielectric anisotropy give rise to an unprecedented dual alignment mode and electro‐optical response, which has a potential impact on current liquid crystal (LC) display technologies and N‐LC optical‐biosensor design. By fine‐tuning experimental conditions (temperature, electric field, and alignment), N‐LCs doped with gold nanoclusters can be aligned and electrically reoriented either like N‐LCs with a positive dielectric anisotropy in a planar cell or, alternatively, as N‐LCs with a negative dielectric anisotropy in a homeotropic cell, both at lower threshold voltages than the pure N‐LC.