Electro-Optical Behavior of Nematic Liquid Crystals Doped with Mn-Doped ZnFe2O4 Ferrite Nanoparticles

The electro-optical behavior of and electric-field-induced structural changes in nematic liquid crystals (6CHBT and 5CB) doped with a low concentration (1 × 10−4) of Mn-doped zinc ferrite nanoparticles were investigated. Light transmission and surface acoustic wave attenuation techniques were employed to monitor structural responses under increasing and decreasing electric field modes, as well as after pulsed field application. The influence of nanoparticle morphology (rods, needles, and clusters) and particle size on the field-induced structural modifications was systematically evaluated. Shifts in the threshold electric field were observed. The results obtained from both experimental approaches were compared in terms of suspension stability and demonstrate the potential of these ferronematic systems for applications in sensors, smart materials, and information storage devices.