title: Nematic liquid crystal reorientation around multi-walled carbon nanotubes mapped via Raman microscopy.
abstract: We have studied the formation of topological defects in liquid crystal (LC) matrices induced by multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and external electric fields. The defects are ascribable to a distortion of the LC molecular director in proximity of the MWCNT surface. The system is analyzed macroscopically using spectroscopic variable angle ellipsometry. Concurrently, confocal micro-Raman spectroscopy is used to study the system state at the microscale. This allows to acquire a three-dimensional, spatially-resolved map of the topological defect, determining scale length variations and orientation topography of the LC molecules around the MWCNT.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cacace
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García-García
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zito
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tkachenko
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rusciano
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Geday
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Otón
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marino
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sasso