Sparse multiwall carbon nanotube electrode arrays for liquid-crystal photonic devices

A new class of devices based on a hybrid combination of two different materials, nanotubes and liquid crystals, is presented. An array of individual vertically aligned multiwall carbon nanotubes creates a Gaussian electric field profile which reorients a nematic liquid crystal. The variation in refractive index acts like a graded index optical element which can be varied electrically. Results are presented from a device fabricated with 10 mu m pitch micro-optical elements.