NANOSYSTEMS: PHYSICS, CHEMISTRY, MATHEMATICS, 2019, 10 (3), P. 243–254
Orientational order parameter of liquid crystalline nanocomposites by Newton’s rings and image analysis methods
M. Munavar Hussain – Department of Physics, KNS Institute of Technology, Bengaluru, India; munavar.phd@gmail.com
B. H. Doreswamy – Department of Physics, SJB Institute of Technology, Bengaluru, India
N. C. Shobha – Department of Physics, APS College of Engineering, Bengaluru, India
V. N. Vijayakumar – Department of Physics,Bannari Amman Institute of Technology, Sathyamangalam, India
K. Fakruddin – Department of Physics, Ghousia College of Engineering, Ramanagara, India
Liquid crystalline nanocomposites are prepared by dispersing TiO2, ZnO, Fe2O3 and Fe3O4 nanoparticles separately in 4-Cyano 4’-Propoxy-1, 1’-Biphenyl (3O-CB) liquid crystal in a 1:100 ratio. The characteristic textures exhibited are captured at different liquid crystalline phases by using POM. The phase transition temperatures are measured by both polarizing optical microscope (POM) and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). The optical textures are analyzed by using MATLAB software to compute birefringence and order parameter of samples. The birefringence and order parameter also measured by conventional Newton’s rings technique, the results are discussed.
Keywords: liquid crystals, nanocomposites, optical textures, phase transition temperatures, birefringence, order parameter.
DOI 10.17586/2220-8054-2019-10-3-243-254
