Ultranarrow PbS nanorod-nematic liquid crystal blend for enhanced electro-optic properties

Dispersion of ultranarrow PbS nanorods of 1.8 nm diameter, encapsulated by a fluidlike soft trioctylamine layer, in the nematic liquid crystal (LC ZLI-4792) results in a novel soft matter type blend with enhanced electro-optic properties. Despite having a cubic rock-salt structure, the ultranarrow rods possess a finite inherent dipole moment and show excellent miscibility in the LC host. The local ordering significantly affects the global ordering of the blend allowing a more rapid response of the electro-optic properties. These unique blends are obtainable only by doping with one-dimensional nanorods of ultrasmall dimensions and illustrates how a nonmesogenic element can be introduced within a liquid crystal for improvement of the switching properties of the blend. The unique blend could be a model for fundamental conceptual advances in general understanding of interaction behavior, leading consequently to a significant technological advancement for superior device fabrications.