We show how the inclusions of the nanoparticles or the clusters of nanoparticles in the liquid-crystalline smectic-$A$ phase lead to layer deformations and may create a tilt in their vicinity, thus inducing locally a smectic-$A$–smectic-$C$ transition. We have studied a freestanding film of “de Vries” compound, which exhibits the smectic-$A$–smectic-$C$ transition without layer shrinkage, mixed with functionalized gold nanoparticles. The tilt induced by nanoparticle clusters, which decorate the edge dislocations, has been observed in the smectic-$A$ phase. The tilt of liquid-crystal molecules near nanoparticles is a consequence of interaction of liquid-crystalline molecules with the surface of nanoparticles. The observed tilt may prove the concept of existence of a disordered tilt in the smectic-$A$ phase of de Vries compounds. The tilt distribution near nanoparticles is discussed using both the smectic-$A$ elasticity and local smectic-$A$–smectic-$C$ transition.

• Received 15 August 2013
• Revised 18 November 2013

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.89.012505