Physics – Condensed Matter – Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
Scientific paper
2009-11-04
Proceedings of SPIE 7388, 738802 (2009)
Physics
Condensed Matter
Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
12 pages, 17 Postscript figures
Scientific paper
10.1117/12.853075
This work discusses optical singularities and electrical conductivity behavior in a thin electrooptical cell filled with composites including multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and nematic liquid crystal (LC). The MWCNTs with high aspect ratio $L/d\approx 300\div1000$ and nematic LC 5CB (4-pentyl-4-0-cyanobiphenyl) were used. The composites were prepared by introduction of MWCNTs ($0.0001\div0.1$ % wt) into LC solvent with subsequent sonication. The increase of MWCNT concentration (between $0.005\div0.05$ % wt) resulted in self-organization of MWCNTs and formation of micron-sized aggregates with fractal boundaries. The visually observed formation of spanning MWCNT networks near the percolation threshold at ~0.025 % wt was accompanied with transition from non-conductive to conductive state and generation of optical singularities. The observed effects were explained by the strong interactions between MWCNTs and LC medium and planar orientation of 5CB molecules near the lateral surface of MWCNTs. It was speculated that optical singularities arose as a results of interaction of an incident laser beam with LC perturbed interfacial shells covering the MWCNT clusters. Behavior of the interfacial shell thickness in external electric field and in the vicinity of the nematic to isotropic transition was discussed.
Goncharuk A. I.
Lebovka Nikolai I.
Ponevchinsky V. V.
Soskin Marat S.
Vasil'ev V. I.
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