  We investigated both numerically and experimentally the dynamics of
individual ZnO nanowires immersed in an in-plane switching (IPS)
4-Cyano-4-pentylbiphenyl (5CB) liquid crystal cell under switching electric
fields. Comparing the motion of nanowires captured by a high-speed CCD camera
with the simulated results allows the interaction among nanowires, liquid
crystals and external electric field to be studied. Our results show that in
the nematic phase, the relaxation and response of a nanowire are both
controlled by both the dielectrophoretic torque induced by the external
electric field and the elastic torque arising from the liquid crystals.
