Dielectric and electro-optical properties of Mn 12 -acetate and ferroelectric liquid crystal composite

ABSTRACTThe impact of single-molecule magnet (SMM), Mn12-acetate, on the dielectric properties of ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) has been investigated by dielectric spectroscopy and electro-optical techniques in a dual electrode sample cell (DESC). The temperature-dependent dielectric studies on Mn12-acetate/FLC composite have revealed the enhancement in the ferroelectric (smectic C*) to paraelectric (smectic A*) phase transition temperature by 3.5°C. The relaxation process corresponding to Goldstone mode in the ferroelectric phase of the composite is found to be slower compared to pure FLC sample. The electrical response for an input triangular wave shows the existence of one extra polarisation peak in Mn12-acetate/FLC composite which is ascribed to the induced dipole moment in Mn12-acetate molecule. The electro-optical texture of Mn12-acetate/FLC composite revealed that the incorporation of SMM in FLC significantly improve the memory effect.