title: Reorientation of single-wall carbon nanotubes in negative anisotropy liquid crystals by an electric field.
abstract: Single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) are anisotropic nanoparticles that can cause modifications in the electrical and electro-optical properties of liquid crystals. The control of the SWCNT concentration, distribution and reorientation in such self-organized fluids allows for the possibility of tuning the liquid crystal properties. The alignment and reorientation of CNTs are studied in a system where the liquid crystal orientation effect has been isolated. Complementary studies including Raman spectroscopy, microscopic inspection and impedance studies were carried out. The results reveal an ordered reorientation of the CNTs induced by an electric field, which does not alter the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules. Moreover, impedance spectroscopy suggests a nonnegligible anchoring force between the CNTs and the liquid crystal molecules.
authors.affiliation: CEMDATIC, E.T.S.I. Telecomunicación, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Avda. Complutense 30, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García-García
authors.affiliation: GDAF-UC3M, Departamento de Tecnología Electrónica, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Butarque 15, Leganés, 28911, Spain.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vergaz
authors.affiliation: GDAF-UC3M, Departamento de Tecnología Electrónica, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Butarque 15, Leganés, 28911, Spain.
authors.forename: José F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Algorri
authors.affiliation: CNR-ISASI and Physics Department, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia Monte S. Angelo, 80126, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianluigi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zito
authors.affiliation: CNR-ISASI and Physics Department, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia Monte S. Angelo, 80126, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cacace
authors.affiliation: CNR-ISASI and Physics Department, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia Monte S. Angelo, 80126, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Antigone
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marino
authors.affiliation: CEMDATIC, E.T.S.I. Telecomunicación, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Avda. Complutense 30, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Otón
authors.affiliation: CEMDATIC, E.T.S.I. Telecomunicación, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Avda. Complutense 30, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Morten A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Geday
keywords: Anchoring; Raman spectroscopy; carbon nanotubes; impedance; liquid crystal; negative anisotropy; reorientation; single-wall CNTs