Reversible transformation of hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity of aligned carbon nanotube arrays and buckypapers by dry processes

Dry treatment using a combination of UV and ozone can readily change the surface of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes from superhydrophobic to superhydrophilic. This treatment is also effective for buckypapers. Heating in a vacuum at an elevated temperature (650-750 degrees C) can reverse the surface state from superhydrophilic to superhydrophobic. The UV & ozone treatment causes the least amount of damage to the stripe-like carbon nanotube patterns. The effect of rough surface on apparent contact angles of CNT forests was discussed to explain the origin of superhydrophilicity and superhydrophobicity. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.