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Updated: Apr 28, 2026
Preparation of Monodomain Liquid Crystal Elastomers and Liquid Crystal Elastomer Nanocomposites
Published on: February 6, 2016
Ordered carbon nanotubes-n-dodecyl tetraethylene monoether liquid crystal composites through phase separation induced
1Key Laboratory of Colloid and Interface Chemistry (Shandong University), Ministry of Education, Shanda Nanlu No. 27, Jinan, 250100, P. R. China. xinx@sdu.edu.cn shilingyuan@sdu.edu.cn.
Abstract:
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were incorporated into a lyotropic liquid crystal (LLC) matrix at room temperature through spontaneous phase separation. The phase separation process occurred in n-dodecyl tetraethylene monoether (C12E4) solutions induced by the hydrophilic polymer, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). It was found that the molecular weight of PEG has a significant effect on the CNTs-C12E4 system, which not only influences the phase behavior of the system but also changes the properties of the CNTs-LLC composites. Polarized optical microscopy (POM) images, combined with small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) results, indicate that CNTs incorporate within the layers of the lamellar LLCs without destroying the structure of LLCs. Moreover, UV-vis absorption, Raman spectra and rheological measurements were performed to investigate the characteristic properties of the CNTs-LLC composites. This study not only gives a more comprehensive understanding of polymer-induced phase separation, but also expands the potential uses of CNTs-LLC composites in nanotechnology.
