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Sparse Multiwall Carbon Nanotube Electrode Arrays for Liquid‐Crystal Photonic Devices
Author(s) -
Wilkinson T. D.,
Wang X.,
Teo K. B. K.,
Milne W. I.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/adma.200701910
Subject(s) - materials science , carbon nanotube , liquid crystal , electrode , refractive index , electric field , optoelectronics , electrical conductor , photonics , nanotechnology , composite material , chemistry , physics , quantum mechanics
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 μm pitch micro‐optical elements.