Optics Letters · 2009 · 53 citations · 10 references
Natural SciencesMaterials EngineeringMaterials ScienceNanomaterialsNanotechnologyOptical MaterialsElectro-optic EffectsElectro-optic MaterialsLiquid Crystal MaterialsLiquid CrystalsNanomaterial CharacterizationNanoparticle DispersionsHigh-resolution Electron MicroscopyHigh-resolution Transmission Electron MicroscopyLiquid Crystal AlignmentLiquid Crystal Electro-optic EffectNematic Liquid CrystalsOptical TransmittanceThreshold VoltageTitanium Dioxide Nanoparticles
Electro-optic performance of a liquid-crystal (LC) system is enhanced by TiO(2) nanoparticle dispersed in nematic liquid crystal (NLC). The 2.5 V threshold voltage of LC for device operation is lowered to 0.5 V through TiO(2) nanoparticle mixing up to 2 wt.%. To characterize the shape and size distribution of the nanoparticles, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy is employed. Transmittance spectra for the TiO(2) dispersed LC structure and nondispersed LC structure showed that transparency of the TiO(2) dispersed LC is similar to that of pure liquid LC.
10