Weak polyelectrolyte control of carbon nanotube dispersion in water.
The dispersion of nanotubes by pH-responsive polymers (i.e., weak polyelectrolytes) enables the macroscopic properties of aqueous suspensions to be tuned. Microstructural changes were achieved as a function of pH in aqueous suspensions containing single-walled carbon nanotubes and imaged by cryogenic-TEM. Clear evidence of pH-sensitive nanotube dispersion is shown. We expect that many useful properties of these nanotube-polymer systems could be sensitive to microstructure, making this technique important for aqueous processing of carbon nanotubes and macroscopic tailoring of solid polymer nanocomposite behavior.
Grunlan
Jaime C
JC
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA. jgrunlan@tamu.edu
Liu
Lei
L
Regev
Oren
O
D004573:Electrolytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D015394:Molecular Structure; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
D004573:Electrolytes; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D011108:Polymers; D014867:Water