Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals, Vol.435, 767-776, 2005
Novel carbon nanotubes based on disk-rod assemblies of lyotropic liquid crystals
We have fabricated carbon nanofibers and nanotubes using disk-rod assemblies of lyotropic liquid crystals in which the orientation of graphene layers can be manipulated using surface anchoring techniques common to liquid crystal displays. The bulk material properties of the carbon can be engineered by the spatial arrangement of the graphene layers due to their anisotropic nature. We have also demonstrated a method to pattern arrays of nanotubes using an automated printing technique.