Homeotropic liquid crystal device employing vertically aligned carbon nanotube arrays as the alignment agent

Rajratan Basu and Lukas J. Atwood
Phys. Rev. E 102, 022701 – Published 17 August 2020

Abstract

Vertically aligned carbon nanotube (VA-CNT) arrays were grown on several chromium (Cr)-coated glass substrates using a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition system. The CNTs were 2μm long and had a site density of 2×109cm2 on the substrates. Two VA-CNT slides on Cr glass substrates were put together to design a homeotropic electro-optic liquid crystal (LC) device. A negative dielectric anisotropic LC was used in the device. The ππ stacking interaction between the LC and the VA-CNTs allows the LC material to align homeotropically in the cell. When an external electric field was applied using the transparent conducting Cr layers, the LC achieves a planar orientation above a threshold field. These results successfully demonstrate the optical, electro-optical operations, and the field-induced dynamic response of a homeotropic LC device employing the VA-CNT arrays as the homeotropic-alignment agent. This study significantly advances the range and understanding of nanostructured surfaces that provide vertical alignment of LCs.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 4 June 2020
  • Accepted 28 July 2020

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.102.022701

Published by the American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Condensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics

Authors & Affiliations

Rajratan Basu* and Lukas J. Atwood

  • Department of Physics, Soft Matter and Nanomaterials Laboratory, The United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland 21402, USA

  • *basu@usna.edu

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 102, Iss. 2 — August 2020

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review E

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×