Magnetic actuation of a thermodynamically stable colloid of ferromagnetic nanoparticles in a liquid crystal

We report the development of a highly stable nanomaterial based on ferromagnetic nanoparticles dispersed in a thermotropic liquid crystal. The long-term colloidal stability and homogeneity were achieved through surface modification of the nanoparticles with a mixture of a dendritic oligomesogenic surfactant and hexylphosphonic acid and confirmed by optical and electron microscopy. The nanomaterial has an increased sensitivity to the magnetic field possessing collective and non-collective magneto-optical responses in contrast to the undoped LC. The effective coupling of the spherical particles with the LC director is due to the arrangement of the nanoparticles in chains. The development of a thermodynamically stable colloid of ferromagnetic nanoparticles in a liquid crystal with high magnetic sensitivity is reported.