Giant soft-memory in liquid crystal nanocomposites.

A hybrid nanocomposite comprising 5CB liquid crystal (LC) and block copolymer (BCP) functionalized barium titanate ferroelectric nanoparticles was prepared. This hybrid system exhibits a giant soft-memory effect that was detected by dielectric hysteresis. Spontaneous polarization of ferroelectric nanoparticles couples synergistically with the radially aligned BCP chains to create nanoscopic domains where LC mesogens can align directionally. Such domains can be rotated electromechanically and locked in space even after the removal of the applied electric field. The resulting non-volatile memory is several times larger than the non-functionalized sample and provides an insight into the role of non-covalent polymer functionalization on enhancing the size of the nanoscopic domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]