Thin films of liquid crystalline phthalocyanines and their its composites with single-walled carbon nanotubes: properties and alignment

Abstract

In this study, liquid crystalline copper phthalocyanine (CuPcR4) and single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) were dispersed in solution to prepare novel composites. Thin films of these composites prepared by solving of the composite in dimethylformamide and then by spin coating the solution onto the substrates were studied by the methods of polarizing microscopy, polarized Raman and optical absorption spectroscopies. It was shown that pure CuPcR4 forms the films with a herringbone arrangement of phthalocyanine molecules within adjacent columns. An addition of carbon nanotubes to CuPeR(4) leads to formation of the films with edge-on orientation of the molecules. The higher conductivity values were found for the films of phthalocyanine containing SWCNT. The lateral conductivity tends to increase with the increase of SWCNT concentration from 0.5 to 2 wt %.