title: Ordered carbon nanotubes-n-dodecyl tetraethylene monoether liquid crystal composites through phase separation induced by poly(ethylene glycol).
abstract: Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were incorporated into a lyotropic liquid crystal (LLC) matrix at room temperature through spontaneous phase separation. The phase separation process occurred in n-dodecyl tetraethylene monoether (C12E4) solutions induced by the hydrophilic polymer, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). It was found that the molecular weight of PEG has a significant effect on the CNTs-C12E4 system, which not only influences the phase behavior of the system but also changes the properties of the CNTs-LLC composites. Polarized optical microscopy (POM) images, combined with small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) results, indicate that CNTs incorporate within the layers of the lamellar LLCs without destroying the structure of LLCs. Moreover, UV-vis absorption, Raman spectra and rheological measurements were performed to investigate the characteristic properties of the CNTs-LLC composites. This study not only gives a more comprehensive understanding of polymer-induced phase separation, but also expands the potential uses of CNTs-LLC composites in nanotechnology.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Colloid and Interface Chemistry (Shandong University), Ministry of Education, Shanda Nanlu No. 27, Jinan, 250100, P. R. China. xinx@sdu.edu.cn shilingyuan@sdu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xin
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Mengzhou
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Jinglin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Shiling
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yuan
mesh_terms: D050866:Liquid Crystals / Q000737:chemistry*; D008970:Molecular Weight; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols