Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes in Highly Viscous Media: A Comparison between the Dispersive Agents [BMIM][BF4 ], L121, and Triton X-100.
Dispersions of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) have been prepared by using the room-temperature ionic liquid [BMIM][BF4 ] (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate), the triblock copolymer Pluronic L121 [poly(ethylene oxide)5 -poly(propylene oxide)68 -poly(ethylene oxide)5 ] and the non-ionic surfactant Triton X-100 (TX100) in the pure state. The size of the SWNTs aggregates and the dispersion degree in the three viscous systems depend on the sonication time, as highlighted by UV/Vis/NIR spectroscopy and optical microscopy analysis. A nonlinear increase in conductivity can be observed as a function of the SWNTs loading, as suggested by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The generation of a three-dimensional network of SWNTs showing a viscoelastic gel-like behavior above a critical percolation concentration has been found at 25 °C in all the investigated systems by oscillatory rheology measurements.
Department of Pharmacy, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini, 31, 66100 Chieti (Italy).
Carla
C
Gasbarri
Department of Pharmacy, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini, 31, 66100 Chieti (Italy).
Fausto
F
Croce
Department of Pharmacy, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini, 31, 66100 Chieti (Italy).
Ida
I
Meschini
Department of Energy Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Washington University, 1 Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO 63130 (USA).
Christopher H
CH
Bowen
Department of Pharmacy, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini, 31, 66100 Chieti (Italy).
Lisa
L
Marinelli
Department of Pharmacy, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini, 31, 66100 Chieti (Italy).
Antonio
A
Di Stefano
Department of Pharmacy, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini, 31, 66100 Chieti (Italy). guido.angelini@unich.it.
Guido
G
Angelini
impedance; ionic liquids; nanotubes; pluronics; rheology