Orientational ordering of nematic liquid crystal aligned with a directly spinnable carbon nanotube

We studied about the orientational ordering of liquid crystal (LC) aligned with a carbon-nanotube (CNT) web and its temperature dependence. The CNT web works as an alignment layer as well as an electrode. The LC molecules were aligned along the drawing direction of the CNT web but the order parameter S of the unrubbed CNT web sample was lower than the polyimide (PI) sample. To improve S of the CNT web sample, we directly rubbed the CNT web. S of the rubbed CNT web sample was nearly same with the PI sample and also showed similar temperature dependence. We also measured voltage-transmittance curve and the residual dc of the CNT web sample. The CNT web sample showed a good electrooptical modulation of the retardation and smaller residual dc than the PI sample.