Scientific duo of carbon nanotubes and nematic liquid crystals

With an emphasis on the rectified device performance and related liquid-crystal (LC) properties, this paper presents a timely review of the literature on recent development and understanding of colloidal systems of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in thermotropic nematic liquid crystals (NLCs). The dispersion and stability of CNTs in a LC hydrosol are discussed. The effect of CNT inclusion on the physical properties of NLCs is addressed. It is clear that the effect of adding nanotubes to the LC host and the extent of improvement in LC device performance by doping CNTs, if any, depend strongly on the details of the interaction between the nanotubes and the host molecules. It shows that the combination of CNTs and NLCs is not only of scientific interest but also of technical significance. (topical review)