Reversible Thermal Switching of Aqueous Dispersibility of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes

O'Driscoll, L.J.; Welsh, D.J.; Bailey, S.W.D.; Visontai, D.; Frampton, H.; Bryce, M.R.; Lambert, C.J.

Abstract

Easily reversible aqueous dispersion/precipitation of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) has been demonstrated using small-molecule non-ionic pyrene-based surfactants, which exhibit lower critical solution temperature (LCST) phase behaviour. The MWNTs are dispersed by means of non-covalent interactions. The dispersibility can be switched “off” (i.e., MWNTs precipitated) upon heating and switched “on” (i.e., MWNTs re-dispersed) upon cooling and merely swirling the sample at room temperature, that is, under very mild conditions. This effect is also observed under high ionic strength conditions with NaCl in the aqueous phase.

Citation

O'Driscoll, L., Welsh, D., Bailey, S., Visontai, D., Frampton, H., Bryce, M., & Lambert, C. (2015). Reversible Thermal Switching of Aqueous Dispersibility of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes. Chemistry - A European Journal, 21(10), 3891-3894. https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.201405804

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Jan 29, 2015
• Publication Date: Mar 2, 2015
• Deposit Date: Mar 30, 2015
• Journal: Chemistry - A European Journal
• Print ISSN: 0947-6539
• Electronic ISSN: 1521-3765
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 21
• Issue: 10
• Pages: 3891-3894
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.201405804
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1443714