Liquid Crystalline 1D and 2D Carbon Materials

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene derivatives have created great expectations in terms of practical applications and advancement of science. Processing through liquid crystalline ordering of CNTs and graphenes is a promising opportunity to develop novel materials and applications with spontaneously aligned one dimensional (1D) (nanotubes) and two dimensional (2D) (graphene) carbon allotropes. This chapter presents the different methodologies that have been developed to achieve nematic liquid crystals of CNTs and graphene derivatives and their subsequent use for the fabrication of field effect transistors (FETs), and high performance carbon fibers etc. by processing via liquid crystalline route. Since carbon-based nanomaterials are being investigated in the right context of contemporary significance, it is optimistically anticipated that the combination of outstanding and unprecedented properties of carbon nanoforms with processability and alignment properties of liquid crystals can lead to some interesting materials and devices with promising properties and performances. IntroductionLiquid crystalline phase is a thermodynamically stable state of matter after solid, liquid and gas and is regarded as the fourth state of matter. Liquid crystalline phase possesses less ordering than crystalline state but more ordering than amorphous liquids. Interestingly, liquid crystals (LCs) share the anisotropic (direction dependent) property of crystalline solids and the fluidity of liquids. Owing to its

Liquid Crystals in Curved Confined Geometries: Microfluidics Bring New Capabilities for Photonic Applications and Beyond

“…In this sense, more efficient endeavors need to be devoted to enrich the variety of LCs with unprecedented features. There are strong indications that we could make full use of the microfluidic strategies to address new scientific issues in our understanding of the physics of soft matter in the form of droplets and fibers, including supramolecular self-assembly, stimuli-responsive luminescence, aggregation-induced emission, energy transfer, quantum nanorod alignment, and so forth. , Undoubtedly, followed by the rise of graphene, emerging opportunities might also arise from in-depth studies on the collective behaviors of two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials when subjected to curved confined geometries . The integration of LC ordering of 2D nanomaterials and microfluidic techniques would possibly pave new avenues for diverse applications in the burgeoning field of modern photonics on the microscale.…”

“…124,125 Undoubtedly, followed by the rise of graphene, emerging opportunities might also arise from indepth studies on the collective behaviors of two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials when subjected to curved confined geometries. 126 The integration of LC ordering of 2D nanomaterials and microfluidic techniques would possibly pave new avenues for diverse applications in the burgeoning field of modern photonics on the microscale.…”