title: Influence of matching solubility parameter of polymer matrix and CNT on electrical conductivity of CNT/rubber composite.
abstract: We report a general approach to fabricate elastomeric composites possessing high electrical conductivity for applications ranging from wireless charging interfaces to stretchable electronics. By using arbitrary nine kinds of rubbers as matrices, we experimentally demonstrate that the matching the solubility parameter of CNTs and the rubber matrix is important to achieve higher electrical conductivity in CNT/rubber composite, resulting in continuous conductive pathways leading to electrical conductivities as high as 15 S/cm with 10 vol% CNT in fluorinated rubber. Further, using thermodynamic considerations, we demonstrate an approach to mix CNTs to arbitrary rubber matrices regardless of solubility parameter of matrices by adding small amounts of fluorinated rubber as a polymeric-compatibilizer of CNTs. We thereby achieved electrical conductivities ranging from 1.2 to 13.8 S/cm (10 vol% CNTs) using nine varieties of rubber matrices differing in chemical structures and physical properties. Finally, we investigated the components of solubility parameter of CNT by using Hansen solubility parameters, these findings may useful for controlling solubility parameter of CNTs.
authors.affiliation: 1] Nanotube Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Central5, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8565 (Japan) [2] Technology Research Association for Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes (TASC), 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8565, (Japan).
authors.forename: Seisuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ata
authors.affiliation: Technology Research Association for Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes (TASC), 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8565, (Japan).
authors.forename: Takaaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mizuno
authors.affiliation: Technology Research Association for Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes (TASC), 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8565, (Japan).
authors.forename: Ayumi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nishizawa
authors.affiliation: Technology Research Association for Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes (TASC), 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8565, (Japan).
authors.forename: Chandramouli
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Subramaniam
authors.affiliation: 1] Nanotube Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Central5, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8565 (Japan) [2] Technology Research Association for Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes (TASC), 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8565, (Japan).
authors.forename: Don N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Futaba
authors.affiliation: 1] Nanotube Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Central5, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8565 (Japan) [2] Technology Research Association for Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes (TASC), 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8565, (Japan).
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hata