Electrical and Electro-Optical Properties of Nematic-Liquid-Crystal–Montmorillonite-Clay Nanocomposites

We report a new organic-inorganic hybrid composite comprising both calamitic liquid crystal and nanoscale montmorillonite clay. The electrical and electro-optical properties of such a nanocomposite confined in a homogeneously-aligned cell were observed by voltage-capacitance, voltage-transmittance, and time-transmittance measurements when dc voltage was applied across the cell thickness. Experimental evidence suggested that the addition of a small amount of pristine clay substantially improves the electro-optical characteristics of pure liquid crystals by trapping impurity ion charges in the bulk and by promoting orientational order.