Electrical conductivity of ion-doped fluoro substituted liquid crystal compounds for application in the dynamic light scattering effect

Ion-doped fluorinated smectics are good candidates for use in the dynamic light scattering effect where electro-optical properties of a liquid crystal cell are controlled by changing the frequency of an electric field. In this work, we demonstrate the electrical properties of a liquid crystal mixture exhibiting a monolayer SmA phase. The paper presents a discussion on the influence of the ionic dopant on relaxation processes and electrical conductivity. The temperature measurements of the liquid crystal mixture of positive dielectric anisotropy were conducted in planarly and homeotropically aligned cells from the isotropic phase to the nematic and smectic A phase. The observed ionic relaxation is discussed, and its parameters were calculated and analyzed. The investigated material can be used in smart windows and liquid crystal displays with the memory effect. [Display omitted] •Fluorinated liquid crystal smectics are new promising materials for the dynamic light scattering effect.•The introduction of the ionic compound results in the increase in conductivity by two orders of magnitude.•The ionic relaxation behaves differently in planar and homeotropic alignment.•Electric conductivity in the smectic A phase plays a main role in creating a scattering state at low frequencies.