Dispersion of functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes in multi-walled carbon nanotubes/liquid crystal nanocomposites and their thermal properties

A novel liquid crystal functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (LC-MWNTs)/2-methyl-N,N′-bis(4′-methoxy benzoyloxy)-terephthalamide liquid crystal (LC) nanocomposite (LC-MWNTs/LC) was prepared via solution blend. The dispersion and thermal property of the nanocomposites with different loadings of LC-MWNTs (0.1–1 wt.%) were investigated using SEM, TGA and DSC. The results show that the dispersion of LC-MWNTs in LC matrix is more homogeneous than purified MWNTs. The decomposition temperature of nanocomposites exhibits obvious decrease at first and then increase with increasing concentration of LC-MWNTs, which is lower than that of LC for 0.1–0.4 wt.% LC-MWNT loadings and higher than that of LC for 0.5–1 wt.% LC-MWNT loadings. The addition of LC-MWNTs has little effects on the texture of smectic mesophase. These results illustrate the LC-MWNTs/LC nanocomposites, which have lower melting point and higher decomposition temperature than those of LC by adding adequate amount of LC-MWNTs, show a wide temperature range of mesophase and high thermostability. The increased mesophase temperature region of LC materials will be beneficial to their practical applications.