Effects of GoldnanoUrchin nanoparticles on ion-transport and electro-optic response in nematic liquid crystal

A small quantity of GoldnanoUrchin nanoparticles (GUNP) was doped in a nematic liquid crystal (LC), and the nematic electro-optic switching was found to be significantly faster in the LC + GUNP hybrid than that of the pure LC. Additional studies revealed that the presence of GUNP reduced the free ion concentration in the nematic media by ion-trapping process. The reduction of mobile ions in the LC was found to have subsequent impacts on the LC’s conductivity and rotational viscosity, allowing the nematic director to respond faster as the electric field was turned on and off.