ZnO/Liquid Crystalline Nanohybrids: From Properties in Solution to Anisotropic Growth (original) (raw)

2012, Chemistry - A European Journal

Over the past decade, composites based on the dispersion of nanoparticles (NPs) in liquid crystals have been of growing interest. The driving force of research in this field is the possible development of new materials or devices with multiple or improved properties. Indeed, NPs may influence the state or the surface anchoring of doped LCs. The electro-optical behavior of LC/NP systems may then be adjusted by changing the NP content. Conversely, the properties of the nanomaterial may be modified and even controlled by the LC matrix. Achieving such a goal often requires functionalization of NPs with LC moieties to improve compatibility between NPs and LC or to obtain new LC nanohybrids. Indeed, LC hybrids involving gold, cobalt, cadmium selenide or cadmium telluride, and iron oxide NPs have been described. In a previous article we reported the first successful hybridization of small-sized ZnO NPs with a mesogenic molecule. Due to the presence of fluxional ligands, the hybridized material presented mesomorphic behavior even with a high content of inorganic material. However, the fluxionality of these ligands at the surface of the NP may hinder their application due to the presence of excess free ligands present in solution. In addition, in most cases these hybrids were obtained in a two-step process. Recently, branched capping agents have attracted special interest in the field of nanohybrids due to their effective stabilization properties for ZnO nanoparticles in polar and non-polar solvents. These stabilizers are characterized by their threedimensional molecular shapes; they also have low mobility at the NP surface and present a large number of functional end groups, which makes them easy to tailor for end-user purposes.

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