DEVELOPMENT AND ANALYSIS OF A PHENOMENOLOGICAL MODEL FOR FERROELECTRIC LIQUID CRYSTAL NANOCOMPOSITES

A liquid crystal nanocomposite, comprised of 5wt% ferroelectric type BaTiO3 nanoparticles in antiferroelectric phase liquid crystal host MHPOBC, has been prepared to study the effect of nanodope. Experimentally, it has been observed that the spontaneous polarization (Ps) has been reduced and SmC*-SmA* transition temperature (T*) has been shifted towards the lower temperature side in case of BaTiO3 doped MHPOBC. In order to explain the above facts a new phenomenological model has been developed and formulated. Further studies on dielectric measurement and effect of higher doping concentration have satisfied the outcome of the model.