Field controlled nematic-to-isotropic phase transition in liquid crystal-carbon nanotube composites

Hemang J Shah, Adam K Fontecchio, Davide Mattia, Yury Gogotsi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

31 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

A nematic-to-isotropic transition was obsd. in suspensions of C nanotubes (CNTs) and a cyanobiphenyl-based liq. crystal (LC) confined within an In Sn oxide glass sandwich cell. Upon the application of elec. field, CNTs rotate out of plane short-circuiting the electrodes and producing a current flow through the CNTs. The resulting Joule heating leads to a local increase in temp. of the LC-CNT medium. Hence, starting from a metastable nematic phase, a complete transition to the isotropic phase is obsd. On removal of the elec. field, the transition is reversed with the LC-CNT medium returning to the nematic phase. (c) 2008 American Institute of Physics.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)064314/1-064314/5
JournalJournal of Applied Physics
Volume103
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2008

Keywords

  • field controlled nematic-to-isotropic phase transition in 5CB liq. crystal-carbon nanotube composites)
  • Liquid crystals (transitions
  • Electric field
  • nematic isotropic transition 5CB liq crystal carbon nanotube composite
  • Composites
  • Liquid crystals (field controlled nematic-to-isotropic phase transition in 5CB liq. crystal-carbon nanotube composites)

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