Optical, electro-optical, electrical and dielectric characterization of nematic liquid crystal (E7) layers doped with graphene nanoparticles for electro-optics

Thin (7 μm) layers of nanocomposites from graphene nanoflakes (GrFs) dispersed at concentrations of 10−3 wt.% into the nematic liquid crystal (NLC) E7 were characterized by various investigation techniques, such as Raman spectroscopy, impedance measurements and dielectric spectroscopy, as well as by electro-optical measurements (optical transmittance of the NLC layers versus the voltage of the applied external AC electric field). Conducting behaviour, dielectric permittivity and electric energy loss of our planar-aligned NLC layers at room temperature were analysed as a function of frequency in the range from 0.5 Hz to 1 MHz. The analysis of experimental data indicates that the molecular alignment through GrFs/NLC surface interactions is responsible for the reduction of the ionic conductivity of E7 NLC in the presence of GrFs. As compared to pure LC E7, this leads to improved characteristics for the studied nanocomposites, necessary in their practical applications in electro-optics.