The response of anisotropic pigment particle suspensions to externally applied electric fields has been explored for possible application in reflective display technologies. Three different types of pigment particle were suspended in dodecane, using a polymeric stabilizer, and showed Schlieren textures between crossed polarizers at high concentrations (greater than 25-30 wt%), indicating the formation of colloidal nematic phases. Orientational order parameters were determined by X-ray scattering, and the influence of polydispersity on the values is discussed. X-ray scattering measurements also demonstrated a change in the structure factor consistent with the onset of a colloidal nematic phase. In addition, the pigment particles were dispersed into various liquid crystal hosts at low concentrations (less than 5 wt%) with and without the presence of mesogenic mimic stabilizers. However, the influence of these stabilizers on orientational ordering could not be confirmed. The electro-induced ordering determined via scattering was related to the electrooptical response of each suspension using a simple model. The particles in nematic hosts not only showed a high degree of orientational ordering at lower electric field strengths, but also showed a reduction in

In recent years, several papers reported an enhanced dielectric anisotropy when ferroelectric particles were suspended in a liquid crystal. These results seem to be sensitive to the liquid crystal used and the preparation method of the ferroelectric particles. In this paper, we compare different preparation methods of suspended barium titanate in two different liquid crystal hosts. As a control experiment, we followed similar preparation steps with non-ferroelectric silica particles. In all cases, we found a broadening of the optical Frederiks transition but no change in the dielectric anisotropy. Raman spectroscopy has been used to investigate the loss of tetragonal structure in the barium titanate as a function of milling time and particle size. As reported in the earlier literature, barium titanate does not exhibit a welldefined tetragonal crystal structure below a certain particle size and loses its ferroelectric features. This provides a simple rationalization for the absence of any dielectric enhancement.

Self‐assembled disc‐shaped clusters of hexagonally packed, thiol‐functionalized gold nanorods are prepared and dispersed in thermotropic nematic liquid crystals. The resultant hybrid complex fluids exhibit colloidal anisotropy with very high orientational order and are characterized by SAXS as shown in the figure. Precise, reconfigurable control of the cluster orientation at very low electric field strengths (0.18 V μm−1) is achieved.