Dispersions of carbon nanotubes in cholesteric liquid crystals: features of aggregate formation

Abstract

For liquid crystal dispersions of carbon nanotubes (CNT), experimental data on time stability of their characteristics were obtained by three different methods (optical transmission vs. temperature, electric conductivity vs. time, and electric conductivity vs. voltage in conditions of Freedericksz transition). The results clearly suggest that induction of helical twisting in the nematic matrix substantially slows down the process of CNT aggregation, with cholesterol derivatives being more efficient as compared with non-steroid optically active dopants. This allows considering such dispersions as promising functional materials with enhanced time stability.