Effect of surfactant-modified ZnS:Mn nanoparticles on the electro-optical properties of composite polymer-dispersed liquid crystal films

Abstract Composite polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) films with ZnS:Mn nanoparticles both modified and unmodified were firstly prepared from liquid crystal (LC)/nanoparticle/prepolymer mixtures. Electro-optical studies show that anchoring interaction of the LC molecules on the surface of the polymer cavity surrounding an LC droplet has a crucial effect on the electro-optical performance of the PDLC films. The surfactants modified ZnS:Mn nanoparticles could effectively reduce the driving voltage and response time. Owing to the functional groups, polarity, and alkyl chain in the surfactants, which weaken the surface anchoring energy, the driving voltage and response time reduce to minimum for the modified ZnS:Mn nanoparticles.