LaPO4 Mineral Liquid Crystalline Suspensions with Outstanding Colloidal Stability for Electro‐Optical Applications

• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201200825
• Publication Date: 2012-07-23T07:15:11Z
• Authors: Jongwook Kim; Alexis de la Cotte; Rodolphe Deloncle; Samuel Archambeau; Claudine Biver; Jean‐Paul Cano; Khalid Lahlil; Jean‐Pierre Boilot; Eric Grelet; Thierry Gacoin
• Keywords: Nanorod; Suspension; Volume fraction

Abstract Mineral liquid crystals are materials in which mineral's intrinsic properties combined with the self‐organization behavior of colloids. However, use such a system for practical application, as optical switching, has rarely been demonstrated due to fundamental drawbacks colloidal systems limited dispersion stability. Studying suspensions LaPO 4 nanorods, it is found that drastic improvement stability can be obtained through transfer particles from water towards ethylene glycol, thus enabling investigation crystalline these concentrated suspensions. Using polarization microscopy and small‐angle x‐ray scattering (SAXS), into nematic columnar mesophases observed determination whole phase diagram function ionic strength rod volume fraction. When an external alternative electric field applied, very efficient orientation nanorods liquid‐crystalline suspension obtained, associated significant birefringence. These properties, high stability, promising transparent athermal material electro‐optical devices.