Parallel alignment of nanotubes can be obtained by dispersion in a self-organizing
anisotropic fluid such as a nematic liquid crystal. Exploiting the cooperative reorientation of
liquid crystals, the overall direction of the nanotube alignment can be controlled both
statically and dynamically by the application of external fields. These can be electric,
magnetic, mechanic, or even optic in nature. Employing multiwall as well as single-wall
carbon nanotubes, we show their parallel alignment along a uniform liquid crystal director …