Interaction Of A Bi-Molecular Liquid Crystal Film With Functionalized Nanoparticles

We investigate the properties of a bi-molecular film of liquid crystal close to a magnetic nanoparticle terminated with a variety of functionalization compounds using atomic force microscopy. Studies in bulk liquid crystals have shown that the functionalization compound influences how the liquid crystal reorients. The results of this investigation are compared to the results of work done on phospholipids in close contact with uncovered silica nanoparticles. Our studies of the liquid crystal in contact with the nanoparticles show that its behavior is dependent on the functionalization compound. VC 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx. doi. org/10.1063/1.3703605]