LAUSR

Abstract Nano-doping of bent-core liquid crystals are of recent interest because the blending of bent-core liquid crystals with nanoparticles opens a new avenue both for fundamental research and the development of smart materials with desired properties for different types of applications. A four-ring achiral bent-core liquid crystal possessing only the nematic phase was doped with titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles and its dielectric and electro-optical properties are investigated. The experimental result shows both an increase in the moving ion concentration and a drastic increment in the dielectric permittivity of the doped sample. The large increase in the dielectric permittivity at lower frequency is due to the combined effect of space charge polarization and the change in the viscosity of material due to dilution effect. Due to dilution effect, the transition temperature of all the doped samples is decreased by about 10 °C–13 °C.