Improvement in the Electro-Optical Properties of Twisted Nematic Liquid Crystal Devices Through Polymeric Nanoparticles

The use of metal and inorganic particles to enhance the electro-optical properties of liquid crystal displays is well established. However, the application of polymer particles for this purpose remains relatively underexplored. To improve the electro-optical properties of twisted nematic liquid crystal (TNLC) devices, we synthesized and acquired nanosized polydopamine (PDA), cellulose, and cyclodextrin particles. To enhance their interaction with liquid crystals, these polymeric particles were modified with dimethyloctadecyl-3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl ammonium chloride (DMOAP), resulting in radial constructions. A β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) inclusion complex with 4-cyano-4′-pentylbiphenyl was also synthesized for further study. The TNLC cells doped with synthesized PDA particles presented a contrast ratio of 39.3, a low threshold voltage of 4.5 V, and a fast average response time of 18 ms. Furthermore, the TNLC cells doped with the β-CD inclusion complex particles presented the highest contrast ratio of 49.4, an even lower threshold voltage of 4.4 V, and the fastest average response time of 6.8 ms, indicating superior electro-optical performance. This approach offers a novel method for developing high-performance, low-cost, and easily processed liquid crystal display devices.