Anomalous electrokinetic dispersion of carbon nanotube clusters in liquid crystal under electric field

An anomalous electrokinetic dispersion after contraction of carbon nanotube (CNT) cluster suspended in a vertically aligned nematic liquid crystal (LC) cell is demonstrated. CNT aggregates were firstly aligned toward the field line by dielectrophoretic (DEP) torque and secondly they were elongated above a certain threshold field due to interaction between the induced dipole moment of CNTs and external ac electric field. Below a certain breakdown field, the original morphology of the CNT aggregates was restored after the removal of the field where the elongation was fully reversible. Above breakdown electric field, CNT aggregates were ruptured and fragmented into small pieces and consequently CNTs were well dispersed in LC medium.