title: Reversible tuning of the wettability of carbon nanotube arrays: the effect of ultraviolet/ozone and vacuum pyrolysis treatments.
abstract: Among diverse types of synthetic materials, arrays of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes have attracted the most attention, mainly because of their exceptional mechanical, electrical, optical, and thermal properties. However, their wetting properties are yet to be understood. In this present study, oxygenated surface functional groups have been identified as a vital factor in controlling the wetting properties of carbon nanotube arrays. The results presented herein indeed show that a combination of ultraviolet/ozone and vacuum pyrolysis treatments can be used to vary the surface concentration of these functional groups such that the carbon nanotube array can be repeatedly switched between hydrophilic and hydrophobic.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Aeronautical Laboratories, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States.
authors.forename: Adrianus I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Aria
authors.forename: Morteza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gharib
mesh_terms: D008958:Models, Molecular; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010126:Ozone / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D017155:Wettability
chemical_list: D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D010126:Ozone