Aqueous Nanosilica Dispersants for Carbon Nanotube

Abstract

Nanosilicas can disperse single-wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) in aqueous solution efficiently; SWCNTs are stably dispersed in aqueous media for more than 6 months. The SWCNT dispersing solution with nanosilica can produce highly conductive transparent films which satisfy the requirements for application to touch panels. Even multiwall carbon nanotube can be dispersed easily in aqueous solution. The highly stable dispersion of SWCNTs in the presence of nanosilica is associated with charge transfer interaction which generates effective charges on the SWCNT particles, giving rise to electrostatic repulsion between the SWCNTs in the aqueous solution. Adhesion of charged nanosilicas on SWCNTs in the aqueous solution and a marked depression of the S11 peak of optical absorption spectrum of the SWCNT with nanosilicas suggest charge transfer interaction of nanosilicas with SWCNT. Thus-formed isolated SWCNTs are fixed on the flexible three-dimensional silica jelly structure in the aqueous solution, leading to the uniform and stable dispersion of SWCNTs.

Sol–gel chemistry mediated Zn/Al-based complex dispersant for SWCNT in water without foam formation

“…Recent supermolecular chemistry approaches have offered a powerful route for the reversible and controllable dispersion of SWCNT [15,16]. However, there has been little research on inorganic dispersants for SWCNT; our preceding study showed that nanosilica can disperse SWCNT, but loses its 3 dispersibility over time [17]. Thus, the inorganic SWCNT dispersant of sufficient stability should offer a new application field of SWCNT.…”

Zn/Al complex-SWCNT ink for transparent and conducting homogeneous films by scalable bar coating method

“…We have found that nanosilica can be used as an efficient dispersant for carbon nanotubes. 27 However, its dispersibility changes with aging time, which is not desirable for the TCF fabrication. Then, we developed a quite stable Zn/Al complex dispersant for the fabrication of SWCNT based film.…”

Fabrication of durable and flexible single-walled carbon nanotube transparent conductive films

“…19 The hydrophilic nature of charged sulfonate groups being accessible by bulk water helps the exfoliation and the stabilization of individual SWCNTs come through their electrostatic repulsion. 9 TEM and AFM were utilized to characterize the length and diameter of the SWCNTs dispersion. Fig.…”

“…For past few decades, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are considered as a promising material in various elds including energy, environment, medicine, and textiles because of their unique and outstanding properties such as good electrical properties, high mechanical and thermal stability. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] In particular, singlewalled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), which have remarkable electrical mobility, conductivity 6,12 and work functions, 13 are deliberated favorable in electrical applications such as transistors, 6,14,15 sensors, 16,17 memory devices 18 and conducting lms. [4][5][6][7][19][20][21] Thus, SWCNTs are expected as the best candidate material to replace current ITO due to outstanding exibility, good stability, high conductivity and good optical transparency, ability of low-temperature printing and coating process; and thanks to its abundant availability which has great potential for the cost reduction.…”