Citrate Capped Silver Nanoparticles Based Liquid Crystals-Spectroscopic Characterization

The synthesis and characterization on liquid crystalline (LC) p-undecyloxy benzoic acid (11OBA) with 30 mu l citrate capped silver (Ag) nanoparticles dispersion are carried out. Spectroscopic techniques like X-ray diffraction spectrometric studies (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infra Red Spectroscopy (FTIR), Ultra Violet Spectroscopy (UV) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were performed on to the prepared samples. Textural determinations of the synthesized compounds are recorded by using polarizing optical microscope (POM) attached with a hot stage and camera. These results showed that the dispersion of citrate capped Ag nanoparticles in 11OBA exhibit nematic (NC) phases as same as the pure LCs, with reduced clearing temperature as expected. The smectic-C (SmC) thermal ranges are enhanced and the nematic thermal ranges are changed slightly both in DSC and POM with the dispersion of 30 mu l citrate capped Ag nanoparticles.