title: Dispersion and phase separation of carbon nanotubes in ultrathin polymer films.
abstract: The inner structure and nanoscale distribution of the stiffness was studied for polymer-single-wall carbon nanotube composites. Dispersion of nanotubes in a polystyrene and polyurethane polymer matrix was achieved by a proper choice of the organic solvent (NMP) and sonification of polymer/SWNT solutions. Ultrathin nanocomposite films were prepared through a dip-coating procedure and possessed a noticeable degree of nanotube orientation in the direction of the applied shear force. Peculiarities of the phase separation in the films were studied by atomic force microscopy (with application of force modulation mode to map the nanotube distribution within the polymer matrix) and Raman spectroscopy.
authors.affiliation: Materials Science and Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI 49008, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.forename: Srikanth
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Singamaneni
authors.forename: Ramesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kattumenu
authors.forename: Valery
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bliznyuk