The Effect of the Size of BaTiO_3 Nanoparticles on the Electro-Optic Properties of Nematic Liquid Crystals

摘要

The size, size distribution and shape of ferroelectric BaTiO_3 nanoparticles were determined using three different imaging techniques. The nanoparticles fabricated by milling microcrystals were found to have sizes of 12±3 nm, 15±3 nm and 18±3 nm. Liquid crystal suspensions with 1% concentration of nanoparticles were prepared and their dielectric and optical anisotropy were measured. It is shown that the largest particles lead to the strongest enhancement of dielectric and optical anisotropy, as compared with undoped liquid crystals.