Influence of the Aerosil Surface Modification on Electro-Optical Characteristics of Filled Liquid Crystals

Abstract
We have studied the influence of surface state of aerosil on electro-optical characteristics of suspensions ‘aerosil-liquid crystal (LC)’. Modification of aerosil surface by hydrophobic fragments improves these characteristics. Also the dependence of a hydrophobic modificator structure on electro-optical characteristics was investigated. Explanation is given on the basis of the influence of the surface structure on the anchoring energy value of the LC-aerosil interface.