Conductance Enhancement in Blue Phase Liquid Crystals via Silver Nanoparticle Incorporation

This work demonstrates that silver (Ag) nanoparticle doping markedly enhances both the electrical conductance and thermal stability of Blue Phase Liquid Crystals (BPLCs). Unlike undoped BPLCs, which exhibit limited conductance dominated by slow ion migration and molecular reorientation, Ag-doped samples show smooth, frequency-dependent conductance indicative of efficient free carrier transport. Temperature-dependent analysis reveals a significant broadening of the stable blue phase range and an upward shift in the isotropic transition temperature, attributed to improved ionic mobility and defect stabilization by Ag nanoparticles. These findings position Ag nanoparticle doping as a powerful strategy to tailor BPLC properties, unlocking their potential for high-performance, fast-response electro-optic devices.