Improved dispersion of carbon nanotubes in chitosan

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes (CNT)/chitosan films and fibers can find use in specialized applications like the artificial muscles and other intelligent switching devices. The dispersion state of the single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) in chitosan matrix plays a major role in deciding the ultimate properties of composite. A suitable chemical treatment for purification and functionalization of SWCNTs is reported. Optimal conditions to prepare water soluble and stable, dispersion of SWCNT in chitosan are presented. The dispersion behavior of purified and functionalized SWCNT was characterized by visual observations, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Raman spectroscopy. The dispersion obtained using functionalized SWCNT was stable, while the purified SWCNT dispersion showed limited stability. The better stability of functionalized SWCNT dispersion in chitosan was evidenced by improved interaction between chitosan and carboxyl functional groups of SWCNT.

Interaction of water soluble chitosan with multiwalled carbon nanotubes

“…3 Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have extraordinary electrical, mechanical, and thermal properties and have the potential for a wide variety of applications. [4][5][6][7] The chitosan/CNT system is especially interesting because the introduced chitosan endows CNTs with biocompatibility. 8 Low molecular weight chitosan is covalently attached to multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), 9 and the MWCNTs can be dispersed in dimethylsulfoxide, dimethylformamide, dimethyl acetamide, and acetic acid aqueous solution.…”

Preparation of semiconductor-enriched single-walled carbon nanotube dispersion using a neutral pH water soluble chitosan derivative

“…The nanotubes dispersed in biocompatible media are of special interest for applications such as biosensor, template for cell culture, SWNT-biomacromolecule hybrid, etc. Various biomolecules, biosurfactants and biopolymers including DNA, proteins, poly(L-lysine), starch, gelatin, steroids and chitosan have shown capability for the effective debundling and individual dispersion of SWNTs in water [26][27][28][29][30].…”

Chitosan-coated boron nitride nanospheres enhance delivery of CpG oligodeoxynucleotides and induction of cytokines

“…Amino functional groups from chitosan adsorbed onto the BNNS surface led to good dispersion, and chitosan molecules can act as polycationic surfactants and improve the dispersion of the BNNS. 40,41 Further, adsorption of the chitosan triggers entropic repulsion among the chitosan-coated BNNS and stabilizes their dispersion, which is expected to be the most likely stabilization mechanism. 42 Therefore, the chitosan coating should enhance the ability of BNNS to serve as a carrier.…”