On the possibility of a homeotropic alignment in nematic liquid crystal elements using carbon nanotubes

The possibility of obtaining homeotropic orientation in thin-film nematic liquid crystal (NLC) cells using carbon nanotubes is briefly considered. The results of this investigation can be used to develop optical elements for displays with vertical orientations of NLC molecules (MVA-display technology).     

Hybrid carbon nanotube and dye-doped liquid crystal material for holographic imaging

Without the application of AC or DC electric fields, we recorded permanent holographic images in a hybrid material based on the nematic liquid crystal E7, doped with 0.6% Methyl Red (MR) and 0.002% single-wall carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The images were recorded using a 488-nm laser and reconstructed using 488, 532 and 633-nm probe beams. Multi-order diffraction patterns were observed, during image storage and reconstruction, for thin films having thicknesses of 15 μm. The quality and diffraction efficiency were higher for the hybrid cells than for cells doped only with MR. Average first-order diffraction efficiencies of 7.1 and 3.7% were found for the hybrid and MR-only doped cells, respectively. The primary objective of this study was to utilize the molecular properties of MR and CNTs to produce a hybrid material with improved holographic properties. Dynamics of image formation and a proposed CNT-enhancement mechanism are presented. The holograms are robust and have remained stable for over 2 years.     

Dispersion of functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes in multi-walled carbon nanotubes/liquid crystal nanocomposites and their thermal properties

A novel liquid crystal functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (LC-MWNTs)/2-methyl-N,N′-bis(4′-methoxy benzoyloxy)-terephthalamide liquid crystal (LC) nanocomposite (LC-MWNTs/LC) was prepared via solution blend. The dispersion and thermal property of the nanocomposites with different loadings of LC-MWNTs (0.1-1 wt.%) were investigated using SEM, TGA and DSC. The results show that the dispersion of LC-MWNTs in LC matrix is more homogeneous than purified MWNTs. The decomposition temperature of nanocomposites exhibits obvious decrease at first and then increase with increasing concentration of LC-MWNTs, which is lower than that of LC for 0.1-0.4 wt.% LC-MWNT loadings and higher than that of LC for 0.5-1 wt.% LC-MWNT loadings. The addition of LC-MWNTs has little effects on the texture of smectic mesophase. These results illustrate the LC-MWNTs/LC nanocomposites, which have lower melting point and higher decomposition temperature than those of LC by adding adequate amount of LC-MWNTs, show a wide temperature range of mesophase and high thermostability. The increased mesophase temperature region of LC materials will be beneficial to their practical applications.     

Optical properties of disperse-red-1-doped nematic liquid crystal

We report on the optical properties of nematic liquid crystal cells containing the commercially available liquid crystal E7 doped with the azo dye Disperse Red 1 at concentrations ranging from 0.3% to 1.0%. From polarized absorption measurements an order parameter of S=0.569 was obtained, thus showing that the dye molecules align themselves very well with the liquid crystal's director axis. Optical index gratings were written in the material by overlapping two coherent laser beams at 532 nm. Self-diffraction of the writing beams and diffraction of a probe beam at 670 nm were measured. First-order self-diffraction efficiencies and rise times were found to be linearly dependent upon the dye concentration with a maximum efficiency of 3.29% and a minimum rise time of 10.6 ms. The non-linear index coefficient, n ₂, was calculated to be 7.6 × 10^-3cm²W^-1. The data are consistent with a grating formation based on trans–cis photoisomerism of the dye molecules that leads to a reorientation of the liquid crystal phase. These photonic devices are functional without the application of any external field, they are easily prepared, and have lifetimes in excess of two years without any indication of degradation when stored at ambient temperature.     

Effects of morphology and concentration of CuS nanoparticles on alignment and electro-optic properties of nematic liquid crystal

Nanopartides (NPs) with flower-like and frame morphologies were synthesized from CuS,a remarkable transition-metal sulfide.We introduced two kinds of CuS NPs into a nematic liquid crystal (LC) 4-cyano-4'-n-pentylbiphenyl (5CB) and investigated the morphology-and concentration-dependent alignment and electro-optic (E-O) effects of CuS NPs on 5CB.A trace amount of flower-like CuS NPs induced a uniform homeotropic orientation of LC molecules;this is attributable to the obtained desirable compact nanosheet structure.Moreover,both flower-like and frame CuS NPs induced a remarkable improvement in the E-O properties of 5CB,and the flower-like CuS/5CB system exhibited a better performance.The doped CuS NPs in the LC host suppressed the shielding effect and strengthened the electric field,resulting in outstanding E-O properties.At a doping concentration of 0.05 wt.％,CuS NPs were well-dispersed and achieved the optimum E-O performance.This study provides a novel method for inducing a uniform orientation and enhanced E-O properties of LC molecules by doping with extraordinary CuS NPs,leading to potential applications in establishing flexible LC displays.     

Electro-optical properties and frequency response of polymer-dispersed liquid crystal gratings doped with multi-walled carbon nanotubes

In this paper, a model developed for establishing the lowest possible driving voltage of Holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (H-PDLC) based on the Maxwell–Wagner effect doped with specific nanotubes. The dependences of the turning point frequency on the doping concentration and the distribution of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are discussed. The MWCNTs can effectively adjust the relaxation frequency of grating, increase its LC droplet size, and decrease its dielectric permittivity. The diffraction efficiency and threshold voltage of the prepared switchable Bragg grating were found to reach 91% and 0.77 V μm^?1, respectively, at 5 kHz. By comparing the results of experiments and simulations, we obtained the mass distribution ratio of MWCNTs in the LC and polymer regions. It was found that the MWCNTs diffuse into the LC regions during the polymerization process, and the use of a suitable driving frequency and doping concentration can minimize the driving voltage. This work provides a reference for studying the dynamic range optical tuning and polymerization kinetics of nanoparticles in switchable gratings.

     

Dynamical properties of nematic liquid crystal solutions in pulsed magnetic fields

Behavior of the rotational viscosity coefficient of a nematic liquid crystal of the N8 type and its solution in a nonmesogenic solvent (benzene) has been studied under the conditions of variable thermodynamic state parameters (p, T).     

Crystallographic phase induced electro-optic properties of nanorod blend nematic liquid crystal

Ultrasmall ZnS or PbS nanorods encapsulated in fluid-like soft organic surfactants show excellent miscibility in the nematic liquid crystal (LC ZLI-4792) host resulting in a novel soft matter type blend with enhanced electro-optic properties. The ultranarrow ZnS rods are of wurtzite phase and possess a chemical bipolarity and a net dipole moment. The centrosymmetric ultranarrow PbS rods possess a finite size and shape dependent inherent dipole moment despite their cubic rock-salt structure. When an electric field is applied, the blend aligns along the direction of the field producing a local unidirectional orientation of the rods and LC directors, and defining a unique axis for the system. The local ordering significantly affects the global ordering of the blend allowing a more rapid response of the electro-optic properties. The degree and switching speed of the blends depend upon the magnitude of dipole moments present in the dopant nanorods. We show how a non-mesogenic element designed with preferential crystallographic phase can be introduced within a LC for improvement of the switching properties of the LC blend. These types of unique blends are a model for fundamental conceptual advances in general understanding of interaction behaviour leading consequently to a significant technological advancement for superior device fabrication.     

Correlation between photorefractivity,photoconductivity, and dark conductivity in dye-doped,low molecular mass nematic liquid crystal cells

The photoconductivity and photorefractivity of dye-doped low molecular mass nematic liquid crystal homeotropic cells exhibit a threshold at an applied voltage of the order of 1 V (in our samples). At about the same voltage, the dark conductivity of the cells exhibits a change from a cubic current/voltage characteristic to a linear one. We explain these observations by postulating that the cell's conductivity is due to ionic charge carriers generated near the electrodes by some electrochemical processes activated by the injection of electrons and holes. Below the noted threshold, the dark current is limited by a residual ionic space–charge distribution, and grows as the cube of the applied voltage. In this regime, photogenerated charge carriers are screened and are prevented from forming the static space–charge field needed to initiate an orientational photorefractive response. Above that threshold, the residual ionic space–charge disappears, the cell is a weak ohmic electrolyte, and the photogenerated charges contribute to the photoconductivity and photorefractivity of the cell.     

Carbon nanotube enhanced diffraction efficiency in dye-doped liquid crystal

We report on the optical properties of nematic liquid crystal cells containing the liquid crystal E7 doped with the azo dye Methyl Red at percentages ranging from 0.4% to 0.8% and 0.002% single-wall carbon nanotubes. From polarized absorption measurements an order parameter of S = 0.605 was obtained, showing that the dye molecules align themselves very well with the liquid crystal's director axis. Diffraction efficiencies of 532-nm pump and 670-nm probe beams were measured. Efficiencies and rise times were found to increase with dye concentration. A maximum efficiency of 5.8% was found for cells doped with carbon nanotubes, while cells without carbon nanotubes had a maximum efficiency of 3.2%. Therefore the presence of carbon nanotubes enhanced the diffraction efficiency by a factor of 1.8. The nonlinear index coefficient, n₂, was calculated to be 18 × 10^?3 cm²/W. The data are consistent with a grating formation based on trans-cis photoisomerism of the dye molecules that leads to a reorientation of the liquid crystal phase. These photonic devices are functional without the application of any external field, are easily prepared, and have lifetimes in excess of two years without any indication of degradation when stored at ambient temperatures.     

Effects of viscosities on the transient current in homeotropic nematic liquid crystal cells

Effects of the Leslie viscosity coefficients α_i (i = 1, 2, …, 5) of nematic liquid crystals (NLCs) with negative dielectric anisotropy (Δε < 0) on the electric-field-induced director reorientation in homeotropic NLC cells have been studied from the analysis of the transient current induced by step voltage application. The transient current in a homeotropic NLC cell with Δε < 0 was well reproduced by computer simulation, based on the theory of NLCs in which the flow effects and the free-slip boundary condition are taken into account. It is found that the response time of vertical alignment NLC displays is dominantly governed by α₂ and α₄ + α₅ of NLCs with Δε < 0.     

Effects of polymer viscosity on the polymerization switching and electro-optical properties of unaligned liquid crystal/UV curable polymer composites

Polymer dispersed ferroelectric liquid crystal composite films consisting of varying polymer viscosities were prepared by polymerization induced phase separation (PIPS) technique. It was found that polymer viscosity influences the polarization switching and optical responses. A polymer dispersed ferroelectric liquid crystal film of low polymer viscosity shows faster switching, however a higher optical transmission at ~ 70% was observed in a higher polymer viscosity film.     

Investigation of nonionic diazo dye-doped polymer dispersed liquid crystal film

Sudan black B (SBB) was used to investigate as the nonionic diazo dye-doped in polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) display, by polymerization-induced phase separation (PIPS) method. The maximum absorbance, contrast ratio, dichroic ratio and the order parameter of nonionic diazo dye in nemetic host (TL203) were investigated using UV?CVis polarized spectroscopy. The orientation of the dye molecules was controlled by electric field, which enabled the contrast ratio of the dye to be obtained by electrically switching. The change occurring on droplet morphologies and electro-optical properties of PDLC film with the change in contents of Sudan black dye and liquid crystals (LC) contents was investigated. We found an increase in LC droplet sizes with the increase of diazo dye and LC contents. Moreover the addition of small amount of nonionic diazo dye reduced the threshold voltage (V $_{\boldsymbol{\rm th}})$ , increased off-state transmittance, enhanced the contrast ratio and decreased the response time of dye-doped PDLC. Additionally the change in transition temperature of LC and changes in LC droplet morphologies with the addition of dye were also observed. Such changes were observed with the images taken by polarized optical microscope (POM). The detail discussions on such behaviours were also made.     

Analysis of dichroic dye-doped polymer-dispersed liquid crystal materials for display devices

Dichroic polymer-dispersed liquid crystals (DPDLCs) based on nematic liquid crystal materials with azo dye were investigated in detail for the application of display devices. Polarizing optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimeter and electro-optic experiments all have shown that the DPDLC containing low concentration of dyes modifies the basic properties of these materials like optical transmission, threshold voltage, contrast ratio and absorbance factor. A minimum amount of dye needs to be added to the liquid crystal with the polymer matrix for its effective phase separation and to minimize the transmittance in the OFF state and therefore gives rise to an overall improvement in contrast ratio of the devices. Molecular orientation and dynamics in droplet sizes are readily controlled in these DPDLC materials. These findings imply that the value of the threshold electric field E_th is approximately 8 V/μm for pure polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (without dye) where the threshold electric field E_th values are approximately 4.0 V/μm, 2.0 V/μm, 1.7 V/μm 1.0 V/μm, for 0.0625%, 0.125%, 0.25% and 0.5% with azo dye in DPDLCs, respectively. From the results we can also infer that the maximum contrast is approximately 2.55 times the minimum contrast observed in the experiment for DPDLCs. The results show that the DPDLC with proscribed dye concentration will be possibly suitable and promising functional electronic materials for green technology flexible liquid crystal display.     

Effects of amino group on the properties of carbon nanotubes

The surfaces of multi-walled carbon nanotubes were grafted with amino functional groups by reacting acyl-chloride-functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with hexamethylene diamine, which improves the surfactivity of CNTs. The dispersity, surface morphology, and thermogravimetry of acid-treated and amino-functionalized CNTs were investigated. Amino-functionalized CNTs were added into epoxy resin to analyze the effects of amino functional groups on the properties of resin composites. It was found that the properties of CNTs, such as morphology and scale, were not affected by amino functional groups, but the dispersity in water was highly improved. Amino-functionalized CNTs are better dispersed in resin matrix, and the mechanical properties of composites are improved significantly, whereas the conductivity of composites is not enhanced as expected.     

Effects of nematic polymer liquid crystal on crystallization and structure of PET/Vectra blends

We investigate the effects of a nematic liquid crystalline polymer, Vectra A, on the structure and properties of its blends with a semicrystalline polymer, poly(ethylene terephthalate),PET. PET/Vectra blend composition ranged from 100/0 to 60/40. Real-time, in situ studies ofisothermal and non-isothermal melt crystallizations of these blends were conducted usingsimultaneous wide and small angle X-ray scattering (WAXS and SAXS), differentialscanning calorimetry (DSC), and quantitative polarizing optical microscopy. All techniquesconfirm that the addition of Vectra nematic liquid crystal delays the onset of crystallization,and affects the degree of crystallinity and structural parameters such as Bragg long period,lamellar thickness and linear stack crystallinity. SAXS results indicate that some of theVectra component penetrates into the interlamellar regions of the crystal stacks. Vectrainterrupts the entangled polymer network making it more difficult for lamellar crystals tonucleate. Slower nucleation and growth result in increased perfection of the PET crystalsgrown isothermally, but reduces the crystallization temperature of PET crystals grownnon-isothermally causing these crystals to be less perfect.     

Effects of functional group of carbon nanotubes on mechanical properties of carbon fibers

The effects of surface functionalization of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the mechanical properties of carbon fibers (CFs) have been investigated. The surface functionalization of CNTs was carried out with a diazonium reagent. Compared to pure PAN, only the fluoro phenyl functionalized CNTs (F-Ph-CNT) incorporated PAN composites showed a significant increase up to 22 °C of T_g and displayed the second peak due to the interfacial interaction between F-Ph-CNT and PAN. Among the samples, 0.5wt% of F-Ph-CNT reinforced CFs exhibited a 46% increase in tensile strength (4.1 GPa) and a 37% increase in modulus (302 GPa), respectively compared to that of pure CFs.     

Thermomechanical effect in a cylindrically-hybrid nematic liquid crystal

Thermomechanical rotation of a cylindrically-hybrid nematic liquid crystal in the presence of a longitudinal temperature gradient is predicted theoretically and detected experimentally. Pis’ma Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 25, 71–73 (March 26, 1999)