Influence of modified detonation nanodiamonds on electrooptical properties of nematic liquid crystals

Abstract

To modify the structure of detonation nanodiamonds (DNDs) several carboxylate groups were added to DNDs. Activation of COOH-surface functionalized groups allowed attaching of various organic tails to molecules. It was investigated that dielectric and electrooptical properties of nematic liquid crystalline mixtures (LCMs) doped with modified DNDs (MDNDs). It is established that the effect of DNDs on mesomorphic, dielectric and electrooptical properties depends on the size of nanoparticles (NPs) and the type of tail-like organic molecules grafted to DNDs. It is found that NPs of a small size (5-6 nm) do not significantly affect on the parameters of LCMs. At the same time conglomerates of a larger size (50 and 100 nm) depending on the tails polarity can increase or decrease the dielectric anisotropy and response time of LCMs in about 1.2-1.4 times.