| 1. |
- Fernandes, Ricardo M.F. 1983-, et al.
(författare)
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Assessing Surfactant Binding to Carbon Nanotubes via Competitive Adsorption : Binding strength and critical coverage
- 2015
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Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The displacement of a nonionic polymeric dispersant, Pluronic F127, adsorbed at the surface of single-walled carbon nanotubes, by low molecular-weight ionic dispersants (surfactants) is studied in aqueous dispersion. The method applied is diffusion NMR spectroscopy that can accurately measure the fraction of F127 molecules adsorbed at the tube surface because of the slow exchange (over the experimental time scale) of F127 between bulk and surface. In a series of surfactants with varying chain length and headgroups, we find that anionic surfactants replace in general more nonionic F127 than do cationic surfactants. The data collected show a strong correlation with the critical dispersibility concentration of the different surfactants, a parameter that signifies the concentration at which one obtains significant dispersed nanotube concentration by ultrasonication. We posit that this finding indicates the existence of a threshold surface coverage for dispersants that constitutes a necessary condition for de-bundling by ultrasonication. The results are discussed in relation to previous findings in the literature.
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| 2. |
- Fernandes, Ricardo M.F. 1983-, et al.
(författare)
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Dispersing Carbon Nanotubes with Ionic Surfactants under Controlled Conditions : Comparisons and Insight
- 2015
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Ingår i: Langmuir. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0743-7463 .- 1520-5827. ; 31:40, s. 10955-10965
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A fundamental understanding of the mechanisms involved in the surfactant-assisted exfoliation and dispersion of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in water calls for well-controlled experimental methodologies and reliable comparative metrics. We have assessed the ability of several ionic surfactants to disperse single and multiwalled carbon nanotubes, resorting to a stringently controlled sonication-centrifugation method for the preparation of the dispersions. The CNT concentration was accurately measured for a wide range of surfactant concentration, using combined thermogravimetric analysis and UV–vis spectroscopy. The obtained dispersibility curves yield several quantitative parameters, which in turn allow for the effects of nanotube morphology and surfactant properties (aromatic rings, chain length, headgroup charge, andcmc) to be assessed and rationalized, both in terms of dispersed nanotube mass and surface area. The data also indicate that the CNT-surfactant association follows patterns that are markedly different from other equilibrium processes governed by hydrophobicity (such as micellization); in particular, the surfactant concentration needed for maximum dispersibility,cs,max, and the number of surfactant molecules per unit CNT area at cs,max are shown to depend linearly on chain length. The results further suggest that the presence of micelles in the exfoliation process is not a key factor either for starting CNT dispersibility or attaining its saturation value.
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| 3. |
- Fernandes, Ricardo M.F. 1983-, et al.
(författare)
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Mechanical Agitation Induces Aggregation of Pre-Dispersed Carbon Nanotubes
- 2015
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Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Mechanical agitation is typically used to fragment and disperse insoluble materials in a solvent. We report here an aggregation process that, contrary to expectation, is induced by mechanical agitation: when aqueous dispersions of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) are subject to vortex-shaking, weakly bound micron-sized aggregates are formed. The SWNT dispersions are prepared by adding various dispersants employing a sonication followed by centrifugation approach. While surfactant adsorption to the SWNTs during sonication results in stabilized exfoliated tubes and thin bundles, we find that vortex-shaking the fresh dispersions for short periods (10-60 s) results in re-aggregation into flocs in the 1-102 µm range. The aggregation is reversible: if the vortexed dispersions are mildly sonicated, the flocs break down and re-dispersal occurs. Imaging at different resolutions shows that the aggregates consist of loose networks of intertwined tubes and bundles. The data further indicate that the average aggregate size increases logarithmically with vortex time and is critically influenced by dispersant type (ionic or nonionic), centrifugation time (prior to vortexing) and initial concentration of dispersed SWNTs. These results are relevant if stabilization or destabilization of dispersions is sought for, i.e., in drug delivery or sensing applications, and could also be of interest for chiral sorting of SWNTs and percolation conductivity.
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| 4. |
- Fernandes, Ricardo M.F. 1983-, et al.
(författare)
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Strong Spacer Length Effects on The Thermal Behavior and Mesophase Formation By Gemini Surfactants
- 2015
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Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The self-aggregation properties in aqueous solution of gemini surfactants of the type alkanediyl-α,ω-bis(dodecyldimethylammonium bromides), 12-s-12, have been extensively reported and are known to be significantly influenced by the number of methylene groups, s, of the covalent spacer. In contrast, the thermal behavior of the anhydrous compounds as a function of varying s has not been investigated in a similarly systematic way. Herein, we present the thermal phase behavior of eight compounds of the 12-s-12 family (with s = 2-6, 8, 10 and 12), resorting to differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarized light microscopy (PLM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). We find that compounds with either the shortest spacer, s = 2, or the longest ones—8, 10 and 12—form several smectic liquid-crystalline phases prior to isotropization to the liquid phase, with appearance of oily streaks, focal conics, mosaic and fan-shaped birefringent textures. In sharp contrast, gemini compounds with intermediate spacers, s = 3-6, decompose and do not form any disordered, fluid mesophases. Both the DSC thermodynamic parameters for the phase transitions and d00l spacings obtained from XRD show non-monotonic trends with spacer variation, indicating that there are significant differences in solid-state packing and melting process. Plausible molecular packing arrangements in the solid-state are presented, consistent with the XRD information and geometric considerations, and their influence on the phase behavior trends critically discussed.
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| 5. |
- Fernandes, Ricardo M.F. 1983-, et al.
(författare)
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Surface Coverage and Competitive Adsorption on Carbon Nanotubes
- 2015
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Ingår i: The Journal of Physical Chemistry C. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1932-7447 .- 1932-7455. ; 119:38, s. 22190-22197
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The binding strength of dispersants to the surface of carbon nanotubes is of crucial importance for the efficiency of the dispersion process and for potential applications, yet data are scarce on this subject. Here we present the results of diffusion NMR experiments in dispersions of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) prepared by either the polymer Pluronics F127 or the protein bovine serum albumin (BSA). The experiments detect the amount of F127 molecules adsorbed onto the SWNT surface. This quantity is recorded (i) in F127-SWNT dispersions to which BSA molecules are added and (ii) in BSA-SWNT dispersions to which F127 molecules are added. The data clearly show that F127 replaces BSA adsorbed at the SWNT surface, while BSA leaves the adsorbed F127 coverage intact. Consequently, F127 binds to the nanotube surface more strongly than BSA. Hence, we provide a way to categorize dispersants by adsorption strength. We also provide evidence showing that the nanotubes dispersed by BSA form loose aggregates where a large part of the surface is not in direct contact with the surrounding liquid. The results are discussed in relation to previous findings in the literature.
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| 6. |
- Nadiv, R., et al.
(författare)
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Polymer nanocomposites : Insights on rheology, percolation and molecular mobility
- 2018
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Ingår i: Polymer. - : Elsevier Ltd. - 0032-3861 .- 1873-2291. ; 153, s. 52-60
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The integration of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) into a polymer matrix strongly affects the rheological behavior that in turn may hamper the overall performance of the resulting composite. Research in this topic has focused on bulk rheological properties, while here we employ NMR diffusion experiments to explore the mobility (diffusivity) of epoxy molecules when loaded with CNTs. Rheology and light microscopy indicate percolation of CNT aggregates. Those aggregates cage a substantial amount of epoxy molecules while small angle X-ray scattering indicates some rearrangement of epoxy molecules in the vicinity of the nanotubes. NMR diffusion experiments distinguish between the slow diffusion of the caged molecules and that of the free ones, and relate the fraction of the former to the macroscopic system viscosity. The demonstrated surface-induced slowing-down of diffusion is attributed to strong intermolecular π-π interactions among the epoxy molecules, and between them and the CNT surface. These findings demonstrate the utility of NMR diffusion experiments as an additional method applied to nanocomposites.
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| 7. |
- Rocha, Jessica, et al.
(författare)
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Gemini Surfactants as Dispersants of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes : a Systematic Study on the Role of Molecular Structure
- 2015
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Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Surfactants have been widely used as non-covalent dispersants of carbon nanotubes and yet a deeper and systematic understanding of the role of their molecular properties on dispersibility still awaits consensus. Herein, we report on the dispersibility of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) using a set of dicationic gemini surfactants of the n-s-n type, where both the length of the covalent spacer (s) that bridges the two cationic headgroups and the length of the tails (n) are systematically varied. Thus, 12-s-12 gemini with s = 2, 6, and 12 are studied together with 16-s-16 (s = 2 and 12). In addition, the single-tailed homologues dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide, DTAB (n = 12), and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, CTAB (n = 16), are employed for comparisons. High precision dispersion curves (dispersed NT vs. surfactant concentration) are presented, obtained through a well-controlled sonication/centrifugation procedure combined with an accurate determination of MWNT concentration. The gemini amphiphiles, despite being double-tailed and double-charged, are found to be less effective dispersants than CTAB and roughly as effective as DTAB. Among the gemini, the following pattern emerges as concerning dispersion behavior. (i) The tail length, n, is less influential than spacer length, s, in dispersing ability, implying that the spacer hydrophobicity rather than that of the tail may govern the affinity for the nanotube surface. (ii) In the 12-s-12 series, the surfactant concentration needed for maximum MWNT dispersibility depends linearly on s, while it is known that the neat cmc depends non-monotonically on s. (iii) Similarly to single-tailed ionic surfactants, the presence of micelles has no direct effect on the dispersion behavior. In combination, these observations also point to an adsorption mechanism that does not involve the formation of micelle-like aggregates on the nanotube surface but rather coverage by individual dispersant molecules.
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