Carbon Nanotubes Blended Nematic Liquid Crystal for Display and Electro-Optical Applications

Abstract

In this paper, we investigate a commercial nematic liquid crystal (LC) mixture namely E7 dispersed with small concentrations of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The dielectric and electro-optical characterizations have been carried out in the homogeneously and vertically aligned LC cells. The electro-optical response of LC molecules has been enhanced by 60% after the addition of MWCNTs, which is attributed to the reduced rotational viscosity in the composites. MWCNTs act like barricades for ionic impurities by reducing them up to ∼34.3% within the dispersion limit of 0.05 wt%. The nematic–isotropic phase transition temperature (TNI) of the E7 LC has also been shifted towards the higher temperature, resulting in a more ordered nematic phase. The enhanced birefringence and orientational order parameter in the LC-MWCNTs are attributed to π-π electron stacking between the LC molecules and the MWCNTs. The outlined merits of the LC-MWCNTs composites evince their suitability for ultrafast nematic-based electro-optical devices.

Electric Properties of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes Dispersed in Liquid Crystals and Their Influence on Freedericksz Transitions

“…For the 0.36% mass fraction of MWCNT with the nanotube powder concentration provided by the supplier ( = 0.07 g/cm ), we obtained a volumetric fraction . In this case, we obtained a decrease in the Freedericksz transition as indicated in [ 40 , 41 , 42 ].…”

“…Previous research on carbon nanotubes dispersed in liquid crystals, reported a decrease in transition threshold when carbon nanotubes were added. In order to reproduce this effect and obtain a consistent decrease in the transition voltage, we prepared two samples with higher concentrations to be used in experimental research [ 40 , 41 , 42 ]. The analyzed samples were prepared by mixing 7CB nematic with multiwalled carbon nanotubes with the average length of 10 m inner diameter of 4.5 nm and the outer diameter nm.…”

Plasticizer for controlling single‐walled carbon nanotube fibers and zincophilic sites of microfiber supercapacitor

“…Polarized optical microscopic (POM) images were obtained with 45° tilted (Eclipse LV100N pol, Nicon, Japan). Bright areas of the POM images were analyzed using an image program, ImageJ 29 …”

Nematic Liquid Crystals Dispersed with Thermoelectric Gallium Oxide (Ga2O3) Microrods: A Perspective for Improving the Response Time of Electro-Optical Devices

“…It is currently a hot topic in science, with extensive research in this area. It includes investigation of unique electrical and optical properties in one-dimensional (1D) nanoscale materials such as nanowires, , nanotubes, , and nanorods. , Recently, enhancements in the electro-optical capabilities of LCs with varied guest-entity dispersions have been observed. ,− Nayek et al reported that the incorporation of ZnO nanorods in twist nematic liquid crystals (TNLCs) lowers the threshold voltage ( V th ) significantly (from ∼1.5 to ∼0.6 V), increases the relaxation, and lowers the charge density. Garbovskiy et al dispersed magnetic nanorods in LC and found that the fall time was 22% faster (for 2% NPs in a 22 micron cell).…”