Optical and electrical characterization of a gold nanoparticle dispersion in a chiral liquid crystal matrix

We report on the effect of gold nanoparticle
(Au NP) dispersion in a chiral nematic liquid crystal (LC).
Polarized optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction measurements
evidence the insurgence of an order change in
the LC host. Moreover, a comparative analysis based on
dielectric and voltammetric spectroscopies performed on
pure LC and on Au NP-doped LC shows that Au NP's
presence besides affecting LC order influences its electric
properties: ion conductivity results importantly reduced,
and beyond a threshold value of the applied field electrophoresis
phenomena are induced.