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An improved understanding of the dispersion of multi-walled carbon nanotubes in non-aqueous solvents

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Abstract

The homogeneous and stable dispersion of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in solvents is often a prerequisite for their use in advanced materials. Dispersion procedures, reagent concentration as well as the interactions among reagent, defective CNTs and near-perfect CNTs will affect the resulting CNT dispersion properties. This study, for the first time, presents a detailed comparison between two different approaches for dispersing CNTs. The results enhance our understanding of the interactions between surfactant, defective CNTs and near-perfect CNTs and thus provide insight into the mechanism of CNT dispersion. Dispersions of “as-produced” short multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in N,N-dimethylformamide were prepared by two different surfactant (Triton X-100) assisted methods: ultrasonication and ultrasonication followed by centrifugation, decanting the supernatant and redispersing the precipitate. Visual observation and UV–visible spectroscopy results showed that the latter method produce a more stable dispersion with higher MWCNT content compared to dispersions produced by ultrasonication alone. Transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopic investigations revealed that the centrifugation/decanting step removed highly defective nanotubes, amorphous carbon and excess surfactant from the readily re-dispersible near-perfect CNT precipitate. This is contrary to other published findings where the dispersed MWCNTs were found in the supernatant. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that 95 % of Triton X-100 was removed by centrifugation/decanting step, and the remainder of the Triton X-100 molecules is likely randomly adsorbed onto the MWCNT surface. Infrared spectral analysis suggests that the methylene groups of the polyoxyethylene (aliphatic ether) chains of the residual Triton X-100 molecules are interacting with the MWCNTs.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge Deakin University, CSIRO and AFFRIC for the funding to carry out this study. We also acknowledge Ms. Andrea Woodhead for her assistance in collecting some of the Raman data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Frontier Materials, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Geelong, VIC, 3216, Australia

    Quanxiang Li, Abdullah Kafi, Minoo Naebe & Bronwyn L. Fox

  2. CSIRO Materials Science and Engineering, Waurn Ponds, Geelong, VIC, 3216, Australia

    Jeffrey S. Church

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  1. Quanxiang Li
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  2. Jeffrey S. Church
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  3. Abdullah Kafi
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Correspondence to Quanxiang Li.

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Li, Q., Church, J.S., Kafi, A. et al. An improved understanding of the dispersion of multi-walled carbon nanotubes in non-aqueous solvents. J Nanopart Res 16, 2513 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-014-2513-0

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