title: Surfactant-based dispersant for multiwall carbon nanotubes to prepare ceramic composites by a sol-gel method.
abstract: A dispersant for multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) is proposed that fulfils the requirements of creating a uniform dispersion in the matrix and obtaining a good interface between CNTs and the matrix, and is soluble in generic nonpolar solvents. This dispersant is based on a long chain surfactant, called in this work dabcosil stearate, containing a stearate-based 18-carbon alkyl chain as an anion, and a silsesquioxane containing a bridged, positively charged 1,4-diazoniabicyclo[2.2.2]octane group. It provides not only a very good dispersion medium for the MWCNTs, but also a very good interface between MWCNTs and ceramic matrices, such as alumina and zirconia, prepared by the sol-gel method.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Física, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, PO Box 15051, CEP 91501-970 Porto Alegre, RS Brazil.
authors.forename: Patrícia R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Voltaire O
authors.initials: VO
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.forename: Geraldo B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.forename: Edilson V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Benvenutti
authors.forename: Tania M H
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Márcia R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Gallas