Electric Properties of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes Dispersed in Liquid Crystals and Their Influence on Freedericksz Transitions

Abstract

Liquid crystal composites with multiwalled carbon nanotubes present dielectric properties considerably different from those of pure liquid crystal (LC). Using a proper dispersion of nanotubes in the LC-sample and a theoretical model in agreement with the experimental configuration, the dielectric permittivities of multiwalled carbon nanotubes are calculated. The influence of dielectric properties on the Freedericksz transition threshold is discussed. Theoretical values for dielectric permittivities of multiwalled carbon nanotubes are calculated for different temperatures