A systematic investigation of dispersion concentration and particle size distribution of multi-wall carbon nanotubes in aqueous solutions of various dispersants

Surfactant-assisted exfoliation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) in aqueous solution have become a common procedure to generate high fraction of individualized nanotubes. Since well-controlled experimental methodologies and reliable comparative metrics are scarce, a systematic research was conducted in order to analyze the dispersibility and the dispersing mechanisms of MWNTs in aqueous solutions of various surfactants. The concentration of dispersed MWNTs was accurately measured for a wide range of surfactant concentration, using combined UV–vis spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The obtained dispersibility results indicated that the highest dispersion concentration and efficiency is achieved in the SDBS-assisted MWNTs dispersion. Furthermore, the nanotube morphology and surfactant properties can be evaluated and rationalized by analyzing the dispersed nanotube mass and the surfactant amount per nanotube surface area. The amount of dispersed MWNTs remaining after varying levels of sonication and centrifugation was investigated, and a controllable sonication-centrifugation method for the preparation of well-dispersed MWNTs was established. The experimental data of the concentration of MWNTs dispersions versus centrifugation speed (ω) are fitted reasonably well by a Boltzmann function. The SDBS-assisted MWNTs dispersion will be more susceptible to the high centrifugal speed,while PVP-assisted MWNTs dispersion will be sediment fast at the mild centrifugation. The distributions of diameter and length of MWNTs at maximum dispersibility show that the sizes for the MWNTs dispersed by SDBS are much more polydisperse. The results further suggest that preparation of controllable carbon nanotubes morphology and design of rational configuration of surfactants are the key factors for increasing the dispersion stability and maximum concentration of well-dispersed MWNT.