title: Reversible thermal switching of aqueous dispersibility of multiwalled carbon nanotubes.
abstract: Easily reversible aqueous dispersion/precipitation of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) has been demonstrated using small-molecule non-ionic pyrene-based surfactants, which exhibit lower critical solution temperature (LCST) phase behaviour. The MWNTs are dispersed by means of non-covalent interactions. The dispersibility can be switched "off" (i.e., MWNTs precipitated) upon heating and switched "on" (i.e., MWNTs re-dispersed) upon cooling and merely swirling the sample at room temperature, that is, under very mild conditions. This effect is also observed under high ionic strength conditions with NaCl in the aqueous phase.
authors: Department of Chemistry, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE (UK).
authors: Luke J
authors: LJ
authors: O'Driscoll
authors: Daniel J
authors: DJ
authors: Welsh
authors: Steven W D
authors: SW
authors: Bailey
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Visontai
authors: Harry
authors: H
authors: Frampton
authors: Martin R
authors: MR
authors: Bryce
authors: Colin J
authors: CJ
authors: Lambert
keywords: carbon nanotubes; lower critical solution temperature; pyrenes; solubility switching; surfactants