Exploring the alignment of carbon nanotubes dispersed in a liquid crystal matrix using coplanar electrodes
- School of Engineering and Computing Sciences and Centre for Molecular and Nanoscale Electronics, Durham University, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE (United Kingdom)
- Department of Chemistry, Durham University, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE (United Kingdom)
We report on the use of a liquid crystalline host medium to align single-walled carbon nanotubes in an electric field using an in-plane electrode configuration. Electron microscopy reveals that the nanotubes orient in the field with a resulting increase in the DC conductivity in the field direction. Current versus voltage measurements on the composite show a nonlinear behavior, which was modelled by using single-carrier space-charge injection. The possibility of manipulating the conductivity pathways in the same sample by applying the electrical field in different (in-plane) directions has also been demonstrated. Raman spectroscopy indicates that there is an interaction between the nanotubes and the host liquid crystal molecules that goes beyond that of simple physical mixing.
- OSTI ID:
- 22399354
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 117, Issue 12; Other Information: (c) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0021-8979
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
GENERAL PHYSICS
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ALIGNMENT
CARBON NANOTUBES
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
ELECTRODES
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
LIQUID CRYSTALS
MATRIX MATERIALS
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY
SPACE CHARGE