LAUSR

ABSTRACT We study the effect of Au/SnO2 core/shell nanocrystals (NCs) on dielectric and electro-optical parameters of a ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) material, namely KCFLC 7S. The FLC composites are characterised through polarising optical microscope (POM), photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy and dielectric spectroscopy. Incorporation of Au/SnO2 NCs enhances the optical contrast, optical tilt angle, PL intensity and reduces saturation voltage of a FLC mixture. This modification in electrical and optical properties is attributed to change in dynamics of FLC molecules in presence of the NCs. Dielectric measurement shows that chiral Smectic C (SmC*) phase of FLC is dominated by an applied oscillating field dependent partially unwound helical mode (p-UHM) process in FLC composite with Au/SnO2 NCs. These results would be useful to fabricate power efficient and highly luminescent NCs-FLC-based electro-optical devices. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT