Switching between purification and contamination regimes governed by the ionic purity of nanoparticles dispersed in liquid crystals

This paper reports non-trivial effects of the ionic purity of nanoparticles on the concentration of ions in liquid crystals. Nanoparticles dispersed in liquid crystals can affect the concentration of mobile ions in different ways. 100% pure nanoparticles can only decrease the concentration of ions by means of adsorption/desorption processes. Liquid crystals doped with contaminated nanoparticles exhibit three regimes, namely, the purification, contamination, and no change in the concentration of ions. Switching between these regimes is governed by three dominant factors: the purity of liquid crystals, the purity of nanoparticles, and the ratio of the adsorption rate to the desorption rate. (C) 2016 AIP Publishing LLC.