Pyrene containing liquid crystalline asymmetric phthalocyanines and their composite materials with single-walled carbon nanotubes

In the present work we have studied the dispersion of single-walled carbon nanotubes in liquid crystalline asymmetrically substituted phthalocyanines (MPc, where M = Cu, Co, and 2H) bearing one pyrene and six polyoxy groups as side chains. The influence of single-walled carbon nanotubes on the phase behavior of MPcs was investigated using X-ray diffraction, polarized optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. It was demonstrated that the incorporation of small amounts of single-walled carbon nanotubes (≤1 wt.%) does not alter the MPc mesophases. The structural features and the sensor response of composite thin films of MPc with single-walled carbon nanotubes to ammonia vapor (10-50 ppm) was studied and compared with those of the films of pure MPc derivatives.