Electrooptical Properties of Single-Walled Carbon-Nanotube Mixed Liquid-Crystal Cells With Rubbed and Ion-Beam-Treated Alignment Layers

The electrooptical properties of single-walled carbon-nanotube (SWCNT) mixed liquid-crystal (LC) cells fabricated by rubbing and ion-beam (IB) process are investigated. The increase of SWCNT concentration in the LC mixture led to a decrease in the threshold voltage of twisted nematic cells by reducing the screening effect. Threshold voltages of 1.3 and 1.7 V are lowered to 0.8 and 1.2 V, respectively, with SWCNT mixtures up to 10×10
^-3
wt%. LC alignment characteristics including LC orientation state, transmittance spectra, pretilt angle, and thermal stability of LC cells are also observed.