Electric-field induced elastic stretching of multiwalled carbon nanotube clusters: a realistic model

The oscillating electric-field induced stretching phenomenon of multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) clusters in liquid crystal medium demonstrates distinct threshold behaviour under optical microscopic investigation. The optimum field required for the initiation of MWCNT cluster stretching is found to depend on their length in the field-off state. The phenomenon has been explained in light of a classical theoretical model assuming MWCNT agglomerates as a single electric dipole. The spring constant and induced charge obtained by fitting the formulated theoretical model show good agreement with previous reports, hence establish the proposed dipolar reorientation mechanism of MWCNT clusters induced by the electric field.