TITLE:
Optimization Conditions for Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Dispersion
AUTHORS:
Yunhua Shi, Lingling Ren, Dianqing Li, Huifang Gao, Bing Yang
KEYWORDS:
Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (SWCNTs); Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate (SDS); UV-vis-NIR Absorption Spectra; Concentration; Sonication Temperature; Sonication Time
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Surface Engineered Materials and Advanced Technology,
Vol.3 No.1,
January
29,
2013
ABSTRACT: The sonication-driven dispersion of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) in aqueous surfactant solution has been monitored by UV-vis-NIR spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Dispersion of SWCNTs experiments reveal that the maximum concentration of dispersed SWCNTs corresponds to the maximum UV-vis-NIR absorbance of the solution. With higher surfactant concentration the dispersion rate of SWCNTs increases and low temperature sonication is required to achieve maximum dispersion. Dispersion of higher SWCNT concentrations requires longer sonication time. For effective dispersion the optimal concentration of surfactant is 1.5 wt%, the concentration of SWCNTs that can be homogeneously dispersed in aqueous solution is about 0.4 mg/ml.