Faster electro-optical response characteristics of a carbon-nanotube-nematic suspension

The response times of rotational molecular orientation of neat and carbon-nanotube-doped nematic liquid crystals were acquired through the measurement of transient current induced by a direct-current step voltage and from optical transmission data. A model based on the dielectric displacement current was developed to describe the electric field dependence of the response and to yield a rotational viscosity that would decrease with increasing concentration of carbon nanotubes. Optical dynamic response also showed a reduced rotational viscosity, with the lightly doped cells exhibiting a faster relaxation process than that of the neat cell. (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics.