Alignment of carbon nanocoils in polymer matrix using dielectrophoresis

Abstract

Vertical alignment of carbon nanocoils (CNCs) relative to a substrate in a polymer matrix has been demonstrated using dielectrophoresis under the parallel-plate electrode configuration. The CNCs were aligned toward the electric field with an AC frequency of 100 kHz and form a small aggregation of a CNC chain by the dipolar interaction of CNCs even under parallel-plate electrodes. This phenomenon also induces an increase in optical transmittance in the visible region and the elimination of the wavelength dependence of the transmittance. © 2008 The Japan Society of Applied Physics.