We report on the use of a liquid crystalline host medium to align single-walled carbon nanotubes in an electric field using an in-plane electrode configuration. Electron microscopy reveals that the nanotubes orient in the field with a resulting increase in the DC conductivity in the field direction. Current versus voltage measurements on the composite show a nonlinear behavior, which was modelled by using single-carrier space-charge injection. The possibility of manipulating the conductivity pathways in the same sample by applying the electrical field in different (in-plane) directions has also been demonstrated. Raman spectroscopy indicates that there is an interaction between the nanotubes and the host liquid crystal molecules that goes beyond that of simple physical mixing.
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28 March 2015
Research Article|
March 24 2015
Exploring the alignment of carbon nanotubes dispersed in a liquid crystal matrix using coplanar electrodes
D. Volpati;
D. Volpati
1School of Engineering and Computing Sciences and Centre for Molecular and Nanoscale Electronics,
Durham University
, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom
2São Carlos Institute of Physics,
São Paulo University–USP
, PO Box 369, 13566-590, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
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M. K. Massey;
M. K. Massey
1School of Engineering and Computing Sciences and Centre for Molecular and Nanoscale Electronics,
Durham University
, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom
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D. W. Johnson;
D. W. Johnson
3Department of Chemistry,
Durham University
, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom
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A. Kotsialos
;
A. Kotsialos
1School of Engineering and Computing Sciences and Centre for Molecular and Nanoscale Electronics,
Durham University
, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom
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F. Qaiser;
F. Qaiser
1School of Engineering and Computing Sciences and Centre for Molecular and Nanoscale Electronics,
Durham University
, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom
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C. Pearson;
C. Pearson
1School of Engineering and Computing Sciences and Centre for Molecular and Nanoscale Electronics,
Durham University
, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom
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K. S. Coleman;
K. S. Coleman
3Department of Chemistry,
Durham University
, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom
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G. Tiburzi;
G. Tiburzi
1School of Engineering and Computing Sciences and Centre for Molecular and Nanoscale Electronics,
Durham University
, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom
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D. A. Zeze;
D. A. Zeze
1School of Engineering and Computing Sciences and Centre for Molecular and Nanoscale Electronics,
Durham University
, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom
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M. C. Petty
M. C. Petty
1School of Engineering and Computing Sciences and Centre for Molecular and Nanoscale Electronics,
Durham University
, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom
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J. Appl. Phys. 117, 125303 (2015)
Article history
Received:
December 19 2014
Accepted:
February 28 2015
Citation
D. Volpati, M. K. Massey, D. W. Johnson, A. Kotsialos, F. Qaiser, C. Pearson, K. S. Coleman, G. Tiburzi, D. A. Zeze, M. C. Petty; Exploring the alignment of carbon nanotubes dispersed in a liquid crystal matrix using coplanar electrodes. J. Appl. Phys. 28 March 2015; 117 (12): 125303. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4916080
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