Dielectric relaxation, electric conductivity, and electro-optic properties of SWCNT-doped liquid crystal 5CB.

The effect of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) on the dielectric, conductivity, and electro-optic properties of nematic liquid crystal 4-cyano-4'-pentylbiphenyl (5CB) has been studied. It was shown that the additive of SWCNTs with concentration of 0.5% leads to an increase in the order parameter of 5CB. In this case, the clearing point is raised, the longitudinal component of the dielectric permittivity increases while the transverse component decreases. The incipient percolation effect promotes to the dominance of hopping electron conductivity over ionic conductivity, leading to an increase in specific conductivity. The elastic splay constant of 5CB is enhanced and, accordingly, the threshold voltage of the Freedericksz effect increases in this situation. An increase in distance between LC molecules leads to decreasing of viscosity. As a result, the flip-flop motion of molecules become easier and the switching times are also reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]