The Influence of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes on the Dynamic Properties of Nematic Liquid Crystals in Magnetic Field
by
Cristina Cirtoaje
and Emil Petrescu *
Cristina Cirtoaje and Emil Petrescu *
Department of Physics, Faculty of Applied Science, University Politehnica of Bucharest, Bucharest RO-060042, Romania
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Materials 2019, 12(24), 4031; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma12244031
Received: 5 November 2019 / Revised: 27 November 2019 / Accepted: 29 November 2019 / Published: 4 December 2019
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Liquid Crystal Nanomaterials)
This article aims to study the impact of carbon nanotube dispersions in liquid crystals. A theoretical model for the system’s dynamics is presented, considering the elastic continuum theory and a planar alignment of liquid crystal molecules on the nanotube’s surface. Experimental calculation of the relaxation times in the magnetic field was made for two cases: when the field was switched on (τon), and when it was switched off (τoff). The results indicate an increase of the relaxation time by about 25% when the magnetic field was switched off, and a smaller increase (about 10%) when the field was switched on, where both were in good agreement with the theoretical values.
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Keywords:
liquid crystals; nanotubes; Freedericksz transition
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MDPI and ACS Style
Cirtoaje, C.; Petrescu, E. The Influence of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes on the Dynamic Properties of Nematic Liquid Crystals in Magnetic Field. Materials 2019, 12, 4031.
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