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Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes in Highly Viscous Media: A Comparison between the Dispersive Agents [BMIM][BF 4 ], L121, and Triton X‐100
Author(s) -
Gasbarri Carla,
Croce Fausto,
Meschini Ida,
Bowen Christopher H.,
Marinelli Lisa,
Di Stefano Antonio,
Angelini Guido
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.201502695
Subject(s) - carbon nanotube , materials science , chemical engineering , carbon fibers , nanotechnology , analytical chemistry (journal) , composite material , chemistry , chromatography , composite number , engineering
Dispersions of single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) have been prepared by using the room‐temperature ionic liquid [BMIM][BF 4 ] (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.