@article{2981151,
    title = "Impact of weak nanoparticle induced disorder on nematic ordering",
    author = "Črešnar, D. and Kyrou, C. and Lelidis, I. and Drozd-Rzoska, A. and Starzonek, S. and Rzoska, S.J. and Kutnjak, Z. and Kralj, S.",
    journal = "Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals",
    year = "2019",
    volume = "9",
    number = "3",
    publisher = "MDPI AG",
    issn = "1542-1406, 1563-5287",
    doi = "10.3390/cryst9030171",
    abstract = "Dilute mixtures of nanoparticles (NPs) and nematic liquid crystals (LCs) are considered. We focus on cases where NPs enforce a relatively weak disorder to the LC host. We use a Lebwohl-Lasher semi-microscopic-type modeling where we assume that NPs effectively act as a spatially-dependent external field on nematic spins. The orientational distribution of locally favoured “easy” orientations is described by a probabilistic distribution function P. By means of a mean field-type approach, we derive a self-consistent equation for the average degree of nematic uniaxial order parameter S as a function of the concentration p of NPs, NP-LC coupling strength and P. Using a simple step-like probability distribution shape, we obtain the S(p) dependence displaying a crossover behaviour between two different regimes which is in line with recent experimental observations. We also discuss a possible origin of commonly observed non-monotonous variations of the nematic-isotropic phase temperature coexistence width on varying p. © 2019 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland."
}