Stability of multi-walled carbon nanotubes dispersion with copolymer in ethanol

Stable multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) ethanol suspension in the I wt.% concentration is obtained used only 20 dmb% copolymer as dispersant. The stability and adsorption behaviors of MWNTs ethanol suspension with copolymer have been studied. The Zeta potential of MWNTs in ethanol suspension is determined over a range of pH. The adsorption isotherms are of Langmuirian type. The interactions between copolymer and MWNTs are discussed based on the adsorption density results. Scanning electron micrograph is found to exhibit large difference between the morphology of nanotubes resulting from the suspensions without and with copolymer. The high DeltaGdegrees(sp) value and intense adsorbability in this study are considered as evidences for the chemical interaction between copolymer and MWNTs. Mechanism of the MWNTs suspension stability with copolymer is discussed. The detailed description of the surface chemistry can be used as a guide for designing efficient dispersant. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.