Optical and Spectral Properties of Dispersed ZnO p-n-Octyloxy Benzoic Acid Liquid Crystalline Compounds

ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) are used in many electro-optical applications due to their special characteristic properties. NPs improve the optical parameters of liquid crystalline molecules. The main theme of this paper focuses on the homogeneous dispersion of ZnO NPs in small concentrations, i.e. 1, 1.5, 2, and 2.5 wt% in liquid crystal compounds of p - n -octyloxy benzoic acid (8oba). Scanning electron microscopy is used to ascertain the morphology of the dispersed ZnO NPs in liquid crystal compounds. Polarizing optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry are used to determine the phase transition temperatures of these compounds. The wedge-shaped modified spectrometer is used to determine the refractive indices at different wavelengths, visually 460, 500, 570, and 635 nm. The values of the birefringence (δn) and order parameter (S) are enhanced with the dispersion of increasing concentrations of ZnO NPs.