Effect of Metal Nanoparticle on Optical and Thermal Properties of Liquid Crystal Polymer System

Abstract

In the present study the optical and thermal properties of a Nematic Liquid Crystal Polymer System (NLCPS) dispersed with different concentrations of metal nanoparticles like ZnO, Zn, CuO were investigated using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR). The comparison of various parameters of pure NLCPS and its mixture with different concentrations of dopant was carried out to understand the effect of nanoparticles on the optical and thermal properties of NLCPS. Our investigation shows an increase in phase transition temperature after dispersing the metal nanoparticle. The maximum phase transition temperature was found for ZnO. XRD shows a sharp reflection and diffuse scattering is characteristic of crystalline and amorphous phases of conventional semi-crystalline polymers. The presence of functional groups in the nanoparticle dispersed NLCPS has been identified using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The investigation may be useful for various energy-efficient devices in addition to display applications.