Effect of hydrophobic aerosil nanoparticles on the dielectric properties of ferroelectric liquid crystal

ABSTRACTThe effect of hydrophobic aerosil nanoparticles on the dynamics of the soft mode and the Goldstone mode near the SmA*–SmC* phase transition in the ferroelectric liquid crystal (S)-2-methylbutyl 4-n-nonanoyloxybiphenyl-4′-carboxylate has been investigated by means of broadband dielectric spectroscopy. The obtained results for hydrophobic aerosil composites exhibit some differences in the dynamics of the collective processes as compared with dielectric measurements for hydrophilic aerosil dispersions. The observed changes in dynamics of the collective modes near the SmA*–SmC* phase transition were explained taking into account differences in surface treatment of the aerosil nanoparticles and effect of random disorder.