Field dependence of liquid-crystalline phase in liquid-crystal and carbon nanotubes composite

Due to their exceptional properties, liquid crystals are useful for a wide range of applications. As reported in the literature, a slight dispersion of liquid crystals with carbon nanotubes has a detectable effect on the liquid-crystal properties making them appropriate for various applications. The present work reports a new application of these composites disclosing a process of transformation of commercially available high-temperature liquid crystals into low-temperature liquid crystals. This is accomplished by using high concentration of carbon nanotubes in liquid-crystal materials wherein the carbon nanotubes form cluster inside the liquid-crystal cells. The application of bias on these heavily doped samples resulted in the appearance of liquid-crystal phases at room temperature which, in the case of pure liquid crystals, were observable only at high temperature. The process is reversible and hence phase change can be controlled by external field.