Increasing the magnetic sensitivity of liquid crystals by rod-like magnetic nanoparticles

Magnetic Freedericksz transition was studied in ferronematics based on the nematic liquid crystal 4-(trans-4'-n-hexylcyclohexyl)-isothiocyanatobenzene (6CHBT). 6CHBT was doped with rod-like magnetic particles of different size and volume concentration. The volume concentrations of magnetic particles in the prepared ferronematics were φ₁ = 10⁻⁴ and φ₂ = 10⁻³. The structural changes were observed by capacitance measurements that demonstrate a significant influence of the concentration, the shape anisotropy, and/or the size of the magnetic particles on the magnetic response of these ferronematics.