Enhanced photoluminescence in CdS nanorods doped with antiferroelectric liquid crystals

We have observed the enhancements in photoluminescence (PL) intensity of CdS nanorods doped with antiferroelectric liquid crystals (AFLC). The PL intensity of CdS nanorods enhances with the concentration of AFLC for fixed amount of CdS sample and also enhances with the concentration of CdS in required amount AFLC. We have also observed the red shift in emission energy band of CdS nanorods doped with AFLC. The emission peaks of CdS nanorods are shifted from 525.9nm to 530.2nm due to presence of different concentration of AFLC. The used CdS nanorods have been synthesized using simply solvothermal method. The prepared CdS nanorods are uniform and high yield. The average diameter of the rods is 30nm. •Enhancement in photoluminescence of CdS nanorods dispersed in AFLC molecules.•Highly light scattering liquid crystalline phase causes the enhancement in PL intensity.•Interaction between CdS and AFLC molecules changes effective refractive index of CdS nanorods shifts the emission energy bands.•The prepared CdS nanorods have high quality.•Our observations open up the new ways to fabricate smart optoelectronics devices.