Effects of graphene on the smectic-A to chiral smectic-C* phase transition

The smectic-A to chiral smectic-C* (SmA-SmC*) phase transition in the mixture of graphene nanoparticles and ferroelectric liquid crystal is studied. Combination of Flory-Huggins free energy of isotropic mixing and Landau theory is applied to explain the effects of graphene nanoparticles on the SmA-SmC* phase transition. The temperature and concentration of graphene nanoparticles dependence of tilt angle, spontaneous polarization and dielectric susceptibility in the smectic-C* phase of the SmA-SmC* phase transition are discussed. A qualitative agreement between theoretical results and experimental results is found.

Automated summary

The smectic-A to chiral smectic-C* (SmA-SmC*) phase transition in the mixture of graphene nanoparticles and ferroelectric liquid crystal is studied, and the effects of graphene nanoparticles on this phase transition process are explained by comparing theoretical results with experimental data.