Liquid crystal addressing by graphene electrodes made from graphene oxide

The electrooptic characteristics of the field-induced reorientation of a nematic liquid crystal are studied using graphene layers as transparent conductive electrodes. The covering of a large area with highly conductive graphene was achieved by the thermal reduction of a graphene oxide film. The conductivity of the graphene electrode provides electrooptic properties that are comparable to those of liquid crystal cells with two conventional indium tin oxide electrodes. This result confirms earlier studies and suggestions concerning graphene-based liquid crystal devices. It demonstrates that the fabrication of graphene layers via the deposition and subsequent reduction of graphene oxide is suitable for liquid crystal applications. © 2010 The Japan Society of Applied Physics