In this study, SnO2 nanoparticles with an average size of about 24 nm were incorporated into a nematic liquid crystal to investigate their impact on permittivity and electrical properties. The dielectric anisotropy inutility decreased at low nanoparticle concentrations but reached a maximum at 0.5 wt%, which can be contributed to improved molecular alignment and enhanced structural ordering of the host medium. Argon plasma treatment slightly reduced the particle size (down to ~22 nm) and, more importantly, modified the nanoparticle surface morphology, leading to better dispersion within the liquid crystal. These changes resulted in reduced interfacial resistance, suppressed electrode polarization effects-particularly at low frequencies-and enhanced electrical conductivity. Impedance spectroscopy combined with Cole-Cole analysis confirmed these improvements. Overall, the findings highlight that plasma-induced surface modification and optimized nanoparticle concentration are effective strategies for tailoring the permittivity and electrical performance of liquid crystal-nanoparticle composites, with potential applications in advanced electric and optoelectronic devices.
