Zirconia Nanocolloids Having a Nanospace of Poly(cyclodextrin): Preparation and Application to Liquid Crystal Devices

Poly(γ-cyclodextrin) (PγCyD)-protected ZrO₂ nanocolloids were prepared by using a microwave reactor equipped with ultrasonic nozzle mixing at 240 °C for 30 min in a tetraethylene glycol solution of zirconium (IV) ethoxide in the presence of poly(γ-cyclodextrin). Particles in PγCyD-protected ZrO₂ nanocolloids have an average diameter of 7.2 nm and mainly distribute within the range of about 3 to 10 nm. The nanocolloids were dispersed in 4′-pentylbiphenyl-4-carbonitrile (5CB) and practical liquid crystal to construct novel twisted nematic liquid crystal devices (TN-LCDs). The response time of this TN-LCDs in the presence of PγCyD-protected ZrO₂ nanocolloids was faster than that in the absence. The threshold voltage of TN-LCDs by doping PγCyD-protected ZrO₂ nanocolloids decreased. The decrease of threshold voltage can reduce power consumption, which may meet the demands of future power-saving LCDs.