Increasing the magnetic sensitivity of liquid crystals by rod-like magnetic nanoparticles

TL;DR

This study investigates how doping nematic liquid crystals with rod-like magnetic nanoparticles enhances their magnetic sensitivity, with capacitance measurements revealing the effects of particle concentration, shape, and size.

Contribution

It demonstrates the impact of particle shape anisotropy and concentration on the magnetic response of ferronematics, advancing understanding of their magnetic behavior.

Findings

Higher particle concentration increases magnetic sensitivity.

Shape anisotropy significantly influences magnetic response.

Structural changes depend on particle size and volume concentration.

Abstract

Magnetic Fr\'eedericksz transition was studied in ferronematics based on the nematic liquid crystal 4-(trans-4'-n-hexylcyclohexyl)-isothiocyanatobenzene (6CHBT). 6CHBT was doped with rod-like magnetic particles of different size and volume concentration. The volume concentrations of magnetic particles in the prepared ferronematics were $\phi_1$ = 10$^{-4}$ and $\phi_2$ = 10$^{-3}$. The structural changes were observed by capacitance measurements that demonstrate a significant influence of the concentration, the shape anisotropy, and/or the size of the magnetic particles on the magnetic response of these ferronematics.