Magnetic switching of optical reflectivity in nanomagnet/micromirror suspensions: colloid displays as a potential alternative to liquid crystal displays
- 30 October 2009
- journal article
- Published by IOP Publishing in Nanotechnology
- Vol. 20 (48), 485302
- https://doi.org/10.1088/0957-4484/20/48/485302
Abstract
Two-particle colloids containing nanomagnets and microscale mirrors can be prepared from iron oxide nanoparticles, microscale metal flakes and high-density liquids stabilizing the mirror suspension against sedimentation by matching the constituent's density. The free Brownian rotation of the micromirrors can be magnetically controlled through an anisotropic change in impulse transport arising from impacts of the magnetic nanoparticles onto the anisotropic flakes. The resulting rapid mirror orientation allows large changes in light transmission and switchable optical reflectivity. The preparation of a passive display was conceptually demonstrated through colloid confinement in a planar cavity over an array of individually addressable solenoids and resulted in 4 x 4 digit displays with a reaction time of less than 100 ms.Keywords
This publication has 31 references indexed in Scilit:
- Interactions of micro-rods in a thin layer of a nematic liquid crystalSoft Matter, 2008
- Field Gradients Can Control the Alignment of NanorodsLangmuir, 2008
- Electrical manipulation of magnetic anisotropy in the composite of liquid crystals and ferromagnetic nanorodsApplied Physics Letters, 2008
- Controlled patterning of aligned self-assembled peptide nanotubesNature Nanotechnology, 2006
- Assembly of multicellular constructs and microarrays of cells using magnetic nanowiresLab on a Chip, 2005
- Elastic Torque and the Levitation of Metal Wires by a Nematic Liquid CrystalScience, 2004
- Magnetic trapping and self-assembly of multicomponent nanowiresJournal of Applied Physics, 2002
- Electric-field assisted assembly and alignment of metallic nanowiresApplied Physics Letters, 2000
- Ferronematics: enhanced magneto-optical response of a liquid crystalline systemMaterials Science and Engineering: C, 1995
- Orientation of a solid particle embedded in a monodomain nematic liquid crystalPhysical Review E, 1994