Liquid Crystals Nanocomposites for Photovoltaic Applications: Structural Properties

Interfacial Structure of a Liquid Crystal/Nanoparticle Nanocomposite Studied by X-ray Scattering: Indirect Evidence for the Role of Faceting of the Nanoparticles

“…The effects of the interface structure penetrate deeper into organic nanocomposites, such as liquid crystal hybrid nanocomposites, and thus can affect the charge transfer inside the nanocomposites. A similar effect is observed in organic solar cells, where phase separation gives rise to nanometer-scaled domains. − One difference is that the nanocomposites have an ordered distribution of the nanoparticles . The interface structure can be dictated by the way the nanoparticles arrange themselves into larger structures. , The structure of the liquid crystal, the interfacial liquid crystal, and the nanoparticle represent three regions that may or may not be arranged with respect to each other in an orderly fashion, and will affect the transport of charges from one of the components to the other.…”

“…This geometry is similar to the one used in grazing incidence X-ray scattering, except it accepts a wider angular distribution. 5,8,9,32,39 The angle α covers angles even beyond the critical angle. If the sample is a pure liquid crystal sample arranged homeotropically, this geometry will ideally only allow us to observe the short axis separation, which can be manifested as a very broad peak at higher angles or higher q, as shown to the right of Figure 3a.…”

“…The surface in this case is distributed all through the sample 5,8,9,28 instead of being concentrated at a specific interface of the sample. 2,5,8,9,28,29 This implies that the structural effect may be different, either larger or smaller, than that observed when there is only one interface.…”

“…2−4 One difference is that the nanocomposites have an ordered distribution of the nanoparticles. 5 The interface structure can be dictated by the way the nanoparticles arrange themselves into larger structures. 6,7 The structure of the liquid crystal, the interfacial liquid crystal, and the nanoparticle represent three regions that may or may not be arranged with respect to each other in an orderly fashion, and will affect the transport of charges from one of the components to the other.…”

“…30,35 Our group has shown that the ordering of bulk liquid crystals is influenced by the presence of functionalized nanoparticles. 5,8,9,32,39 We have shown that functionalized particles affect the way a bilayer will cover the nanoparticles. 10 The combination of the surface energy induced by the functionalization competes with the elastic energy of the liquid crystal 10,40,41 to determine how the nanoparticles will be covered by the liquid crystals.…”