Thermoresponsive inorganic/organic hybrids based on conductive TiO2 nanoparticles embedded in poly(styrene-b-ethylene oxide) block copolymer dispersed liquid crystals

Novel hybrid TiO2/(HOBC/PSEO) inorganic/organic materials based on hydrophobic rutile TiO2 nanoparticles and low-molecular-weight 4′-(hexyloxy)-4-biphenyl carbonitrile (HOBC) liquid crystals confined on a self-assembled poly(styrene-b-ethylene oxide) (PSEO) block copolymer have been studied. HOBC liquid crystals surrounded TiO2 particles, forming core–shell structures, resulting in selective location of nanoparticles in the PS-block of the PSEO block copolymer. Moreover, multiphase inorganic/organic materials maintained the electrical properties of the core TiO2 nanoparticles after encapsulation in the HOBC/PS-block composite matrix. Depending on the composition of TiO2/(HOBC/PSEO) inorganic/organic hybrids, TiO2 nanoparticles showed arrangement of nanodots in one of the self-assembled blocks.