skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Exploring the alignment of carbon nanotubes dispersed in a liquid crystal matrix using coplanar electrodes

Abstract

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.

Authors:
 [1]; ; ; ; ; ; ;  [1]; ;  [2]
  1. School of Engineering and Computing Sciences and Centre for Molecular and Nanoscale Electronics, Durham University, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE (United Kingdom)
  2. Department of Chemistry, Durham University, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE (United Kingdom)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
22399354
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Journal of Applied Physics
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 117; Journal Issue: 12; Other Information: (c) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0021-8979
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, 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

Citation Formats

Volpati, D., São Carlos Institute of Physics, São Paulo University–USP, PO Box 369, 13566-590, São Carlos, SP, Massey, M. K., Kotsialos, A., Qaiser, F., Pearson, C., Tiburzi, G., Zeze, D. A., Petty, M. C., Johnson, D. W., and Coleman, K. S. Exploring the alignment of carbon nanotubes dispersed in a liquid crystal matrix using coplanar electrodes. United States: N. p., 2015. Web. doi:10.1063/1.4916080.
Volpati, D., São Carlos Institute of Physics, São Paulo University–USP, PO Box 369, 13566-590, São Carlos, SP, Massey, M. K., Kotsialos, A., Qaiser, F., Pearson, C., Tiburzi, G., Zeze, D. A., Petty, M. C., Johnson, D. W., & Coleman, K. S. Exploring the alignment of carbon nanotubes dispersed in a liquid crystal matrix using coplanar electrodes. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4916080
Volpati, D., São Carlos Institute of Physics, São Paulo University–USP, PO Box 369, 13566-590, São Carlos, SP, Massey, M. K., Kotsialos, A., Qaiser, F., Pearson, C., Tiburzi, G., Zeze, D. A., Petty, M. C., Johnson, D. W., and Coleman, K. S. 2015. "Exploring the alignment of carbon nanotubes dispersed in a liquid crystal matrix using coplanar electrodes". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4916080.
@article{osti_22399354,
title = {Exploring the alignment of carbon nanotubes dispersed in a liquid crystal matrix using coplanar electrodes},
author = {Volpati, D. and São Carlos Institute of Physics, São Paulo University–USP, PO Box 369, 13566-590, São Carlos, SP and Massey, M. K. and Kotsialos, A. and Qaiser, F. and Pearson, C. and Tiburzi, G. and Zeze, D. A. and Petty, M. C. and Johnson, D. W. and Coleman, K. S.},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {10.1063/1.4916080},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22399354}, journal = {Journal of Applied Physics},
issn = {0021-8979},
number = 12,
volume = 117,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Mar 28 00:00:00 EDT 2015},
month = {Sat Mar 28 00:00:00 EDT 2015}
}