Functional Lyotropic Liquid CrystalMaterials - Liquid Crystalline Functional Assemblies and Their Supramolecular Structures - page 193

Fig. 11 Two proposed models for the supramolecular assembly of surfactants with CNTs:
a cylindrical assembly, and b beads-on-a-string assembly. Reproduced with permission
from [74]. © 2007 by Wiley-VCH
to disperse SWNTs. These nanotubes are believed to line up in the hydropho-
bic channels [73]. This was supported by a change in macroscopic properties
(viscosity), as well as X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements (d-spacing in-
crease with addition of SWNTs). Therefore, the LLC matrix seems to impose
a certain degree of alignment upon the SWNTs along the director. Another
example involves the lyotropic nematic phase of SDS, which was used to
disperse SWNTs (Fig. 11). In this case, alignment along the director was
achieved by application of a magnetic field, and unambiguously proved by
Raman spectroscopy [74]. Given the unique materials properties that CNTs
possess (e.g. tensile strength, thermal and electrical conductivity), these
ordered, composite materials hold great promise in expanding the function
of LLCs.
3
LLC-based Conducting Materials
LLC systems have also recently been investigated as conductive materials. LLC
research in this area addresses the growing need for new ion-conductive [75],
proton-conductive [76], and electrically conductive materials [77] for gen-
erating and storing energy to help offset fossil fuel consumption for energy
production. As alternative sources of energy and method for storing energy