Role of Magnetic Nanoparticles Size and Concentration on Structural Changes and Corresponding Magneto-Optical Behavior of Nematic Liquid Crystals

Abstract

The effect of magnetic nanoparticles size and concentration on nematic liquid crystal (NLC) behavior in a magnetic field was investigated. The magneto-optical investigation using measurements of the light transmission through the liquid crystal was used to study the structural changes induced by an applied weak magnetic field. Magnetic nanoparticles Fe3O4 of spherical shape with different size and volume concentration were added to NLC 4-cyano-40 -hexylbiphenyl (6CB) during its isotropic phase. In contrast to undoped liquid crystals, the distinctive different light transmission responses induced by a magnetic field in studied NLC samples were observed suggesting both structural changes and the orientational coupling between magnetic moments of nanoparticles and the director of the NLC. Experimental measurements were conducted, including investigation under linearly increasing and/or jumped magnetic field, respectively, as well as the investigation of time influence on structural changes to study their stability and switching time. The analysis of observed light transmission characteristics confirmed the role of concentration and size of magnetic nanoparticles on the resultant behavior of investigated NLC compounds. The obtained results showed the lowering of the threshold magnetic field with an increase in the volume concentration of nanoparticles and on the important role of nanoparticles size on stability and switching properties. Obtained results are discussed within the context of previous ones.