University of Manitoba

Ridout & Maybee Llp

Torsten Hegmann

Hao Qi

Johan Alexander Van Lierop

David F Moore

Brandy Melissa Kinkead

Vinith Yathindranath

Vanessa M Marx

A method of making iron-containing nanoparticles (e.g., magnetite nanoparticles) that includes contacting an iron-containing precursor with a reducing agent at a temperature less than 200&#xb0; C. and allowing the mixture to react to form magnetite nanoparticles.

Methods of making iron-containing nanoparticles

Nematic liquid crystal cells with positive dielectric anisotropy that include colloidal suspensions having nanoclusters (e.g., CdTe nanoclusters, CdSe nanoclusters) that include a pure monolayer of ligands are provided as well as methods of inducing Freedericksz transitions in the nematic liquid crystal cells and methods of controlling the alignment of a liquid crystal.

Planar nematic liquid crystal cells doped with nanoparticles and methods of inducing a freedericksz transition

Nematic liquid crystal cells with positive dielectric anisotropy that include colloidal suspensions having nanoclusters are provided as well as methods of inducing Freedericksz transitions therein and methods of controlling the alignment of a liquid crystal.

Novel thiol-terminated bent-core liquid crystals (LCs) are used to decorate gold nanoparticles. Thioacetate or xanthate/xanthogenate functional groups are used to effect the attachment of the LCs to the gold nanoparticles. Such bent-core decorated nanoparticles may be dissolved in bent-core liquid crystal host media to provide polarizable systems which respond quickly to applied electric fields and exhibit other interesting and useful optical and electro-optic behaviour.

Bent-core LC decorated gold nanoclusters

The invention provides a metal nanoparticle comprising a metal and a chiral and/or thiolate group bonded to the metal. The monolayer-protected metal nanoparticle may be used as a chiral dopant in a liquid crystal. Accordingly, the invention also provides a colloidal suspension or dispersion comprising a metal nanoparticle comprising a metal and a chiral and/or thiolate group bonded to the metal, and a liquid crystal.

Growing community of inventors

Winnipeg, Canada

Torsten Hegmann