The Role of Surfactant Adsorption during Ultrasonication in the Dispersion of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Strano, Michael S.; Moore, Valerie C.; Miller, M.K.; Allen, Mathew J.; Hároz, Erik H.; Kittrell, Carter; Hauge, Robert H.; Smalley, R. E.

doi:10.1166/jnn.2003.194

Cited by 512 publications

(445 citation statements)

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“…The role of the sonication is to break up the highly aggregated nanotube powder into smaller aggregates such as bundles and to accelerate the exfoliation of individual nanotubes from the surface of these bundles [57] . Subsequent centrifugation removes any remaining aggregates, leaving a dispersion consisting of nanotubes and small bundles.…”

Section: Maximum Concentration Attainablementioning

confidence: 99%

Liquid‐Phase Exfoliation of Nanotubes and Graphene

Coleman

2009

Adv Funct Materials

603

536

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Many applications of carbon nanotubes require the exfoliation of the nanotubes to give individual tubes in the liquid phase. This requires the dispersion, exfoliation and stabilisation of nanotubes in a variety of liquids. In this paper we review recent work in this area, focusing on results from the author's group. We begin by reviewing stabilisation mechanisms before exploring research into the exfoliation of nanotubes in solvents, by using surfactants or biomolecules and by covalent attachment of molecules.The concentration dependence of the degree of exfoliation in each case will be highlighted. In addition we will discuss research into the dispersion mechanism for each dispersant type. Most importantly we have compared dispersion quality metrics for all dispersants. From this analysis, we conclude that functionalised nanotubes can be exfoliated to the greatest degree. Finally, we review the extension of this work to the liquid phase exfoliation of graphite to give graphene.

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Section: Maximum Concentration Attainablementioning

confidence: 99%

Liquid‐Phase Exfoliation of Nanotubes and Graphene

Coleman

2009

Adv Funct Materials

603

536

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“…Ionic surfactants have traditionally been the preferred choice for carbon family/water dispersions [92][93][94][95]. Owing to the good compatibility between ionic surfactants and carbon materials, this type of surfactant has been the main focus of investigations into graphene dispersions.…”

Section: Ionic Surfactantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Graphene-philic surfactants for nanocomposites in latex technology

Mohamed

Ardyani

Bakar

et al. 2016

Advances in Colloid and Interface Science

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Graphene is the newest member of the carbon family, and has revolutionized materials science especially in the field of polymer nanocomposites. However, agglomeration and uniform dispersion remains an Achilles" heel (even an elephant in the room), hampering the optimization of this material for practical applications. Chemical functionalization of graphene can overcome these hurdles but is often rather disruptive to the extended piconjugation, altering the desired physical and electronic properties. Employing surfactants as stabilizing agents in latex technology circumvents the need for chemical modification allowing for the formation of nanocomposites with retained graphene properties. This article reviews the recent progress in the use of surfactants and polymers to prepare graphene/polymer nanocomposites via latex technology. Of special interest here are surfactant structure-performance relationships, as well as background on the roles surfactantgraphene interactions for promoting stabilization.

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“…The fact that the sonication energy determined the dispersion of CNTs can probably be attributed to the mechanical energy provided by the sonicator overcoming the attractive vdW forces between the CNT aggregates, leading to their disentanglement and dispersion [11,34]. Another possible mechanism is the generation of cavitation bubbles in the sonication process [35][36][37]. When they collapse, these cavitation bubbles can form hotspots with temperatures and pressures in excess of 5000 K and 500 atm, respectively.…”

Section: The Role Of Sonication Time Output Power and Optimal Energmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…When they collapse, these cavitation bubbles can form hotspots with temperatures and pressures in excess of 5000 K and 500 atm, respectively. These hotspots then attack the CNTs' surface or bundle end to break down the large CNT aggregates and separate the small CNT aggregates with the aid of dispersants [35][36][37]. More cavitation bubbles can be generated if a higher sonication energy is supplied [38].…”

Section: The Role Of Sonication Time Output Power and Optimal Energmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sonication-assisted dispersion of carbon nanotubes in aqueous solutions of the anionic surfactant SDBS: The role of sonication energy

Yang

Jing

et al. 2013

Chin. Sci. Bull.

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Sonication is a powerful technique to promote the dispersion of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and enhance their solubility; this is necessary for CNT applications, especially in the biochemical and biomedical fields. In this study, batch experiments were conducted to evaluate the role of sonication energy on the dispersion of CNTs in the presence of a widely used anionic surfactant, sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS). It was observed that the concentration of dispersed CNTs in the SDBS solution depended on the sonication energy, but not the sonication time or output power of the sonicator alone. The amount of dispersed CNTs was positively correlated with the concentrations of SDBS and CNTs, and the length of the CNTs. The promotion of oxygen-containing functional groups on the dispersed CNTs was observed at relatively low sonication energies. The optimal energy, i.e. the minimum energy supplied by sonication to achieve a saturated suspension of dispersed CNTs in the SDBS solution, was CNT diameter-dependent, because of the larger vdW forces between tubes of smaller diameter. An exponential decay curve was constructed for the optimal energy values as a function of the outer CNT diameter, to assist in determining the energy needed to disperse CNTs. carbon nanotubes, sonication energy, dispersion, surfactant Citation:Yang K, Yi Z L, Jing Q F, et al. Sonication-assisted dispersion of carbon nanotubes in aqueous solutions of the anionic surfactant SDBS: The role of sonication energy.

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The Role of Surfactant Adsorption during Ultrasonication in the Dispersion of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Cited by 512 publications

References 0 publications

Liquid‐Phase Exfoliation of Nanotubes and Graphene

Liquid‐Phase Exfoliation of Nanotubes and Graphene

Graphene-philic surfactants for nanocomposites in latex technology

Sonication-assisted dispersion of carbon nanotubes in aqueous solutions of the anionic surfactant SDBS: The role of sonication energy

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