In the present study, the optical, thermal, and mechanical properties of liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) were investigated using various techniques. The presence of functional groups in LCE was studied using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The phase transition temperatures were confirmed via polarizing optical microscopy and Fabry-Perot scattering studies. The differential thermal analysis was used for investigating the thermal behavior. A dynamic mechanical analysis was used to study the mechanical properties of LCE. The significant mechanical changes with a considerable reversible effect were observed for this soft material. The changes in the mechanical shape with the temperature are attributed to the change in the phase of the LCE material. ARTICLE HISTORY

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The structures of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) of different morphology (rod, flower, and grains) using Zinc chloride and zinc nitrate synthesis are carried out under ambient conditions. In this investigation, we report that ZnO NPs are effectively synthesized and exploited to exhibit the morphological effect of ZnO NPS on its reduction in photocatalytic methylene blue (MB) dye‐degradation. UV–Visible spectra studies of the prepared ZnO NPs confirm the absorption peak at 377, 376.3, and 376 nm representative of the formation of ZnO NPs. Powder X‐ray diffraction (XRD) results demonstrate that the strong, highly intense, and narrow‐width diffraction peaks indicate the most stable crystalline hexagonal (Wurtzite) structure of ZnO NPs of rod, flower, and grains with average size about 20, 16.62, and 18.02 nm in diameter, respectively. According to field emission‐scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM), results confirm the development of ZnO NPs. In addition, the degradation efficiency of MB dye by ZnO (grain) reveals larger enhancement than the rod and flower with the highest adsorption of color after 0.067 min−1.This study offers the mainstep forward in the field of diluted wastewaters in textile industries.

Ferroelectric nano-materials are very sensitive to several external stimuli and have attracted great deal of attention due to their property of improving various properties such as photoluminescence, higher polarization, fast response time, low operating voltage and improved conductivity. For enhancing the physical properties, a proper selection of nano-materials for liquid crystals depends upon various factors such as size, shape, preparation methods, surfactant concentration and amount of doping materials. In the present study an attempt is made to study  electrical and acoustical properties of cholesteric liquid crystal after dispersing ferroelectric nano-powder of Barium Titanate (BaTiO3). In addition with this particle size and surface area of pure and nono-particle dispersed liquid crystal were also measured. Our investigation shows increase in Rao’s constant or molar sound velocity, which indicates increase in molecular density indicating a close packing of the material. The measurement of dielectric relaxation at different frequencies gives information about the dynamics of polar groups and molecular motion.