Carbon nanotubes and liquid crystalline phases

Abstract

This paper presents a review of the literature that deals with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and liquid crystals (LCs) focusing on two main aspects. First, we describe the liquid crystalline behaviour of carbon nanotubes in solution. Via functionalization or absorption of amphiphilic molecules, CNTs can form nematic phases in water for concentrations above a few percents. Second, we explore the work done on the insertion of CNTs into thermotropic or lyotropic LCs. It is shown that it is possible to disperse small quantities of CNTs in various LC matrices and that the CNTs are responding to the LC director field. In some cases the CNTs are also strongly modifying the LC properties. These promising results indicate that carbon nanotubes and liquid crystals will certainly play an important role in the development of future applications and functional materials.