碳纳米管/液晶复合材料的研究进展

Research progress of carbon nanotube/liquid crystal composites

当今各种纳米材料在液晶显示和非显示应用方面已显示出非凡潜力。其中,碳纳米管与液晶分子同具各向异性几何外形,更容易分散到液晶中,稳定性更强。本文简要综述了近年来碳纳米管/液晶复合材料的研究进展,首先介绍了碳纳米管与液晶材料的基础概念与分类,讲述了将碳纳米管分散到液晶中常用的3种方法,讨论了碳纳米管对液晶材料相变温度、光学性能、电导率、介电性质与力学性能等物理性质的影响,最后介绍了碳纳米管/液晶复合材料在致动器、传感器、手写板、高强度材料等领域的应用。对碳纳米管/液晶复合材料制备、性能与应用研究的认识,将有助于探讨碳纳米管与液晶分子间相互作用导致改善液晶热、介电、电光、力学等物理性质的确切机制,为未来相关应用的实现奠定了基础。

Today,various nanomaterials have shown remarkable potential in liquid crystal display and non-display applications. Among them,carbon nanotubes and liquid crystal molecules have the same anisotropic geometry,which is easier to disperse into the liquid crystal and has more substantial stability.This review briefly reviews the carbon nanotubes/liquid crystal composite materials in recent years.Firstly,the basic concept and classification of carbon nanotubes and liquid crystal materials are introduced.Then,three common methods of dispersing carbon nanotubes into liquid crystal are described,and the effects of carbon nanotubes on physical properties of liquid crystal materials such as phase transition temperature,optical properties,electrical conductivity,dielectric properties and mechanics properties are discussed. Finally,the applications of carbon nanotubes/liquid crystal composites in actuators,sensors,handwriting tablets,high strength materials,and other fields are introduced. The understanding of the preparation,properties,and application of carbon nanotubes/liquid crystal composites will help to explore the exact mechanism of the interaction between carbon nanotubes and liquid crystal molecules leading to the improvement of liquid crystal thermal,dielectric,electro-optical,mechanical,and other physical properties,and lay a foundation for the realization of related applications in the future.