A Survey on Dispersion Mechanisms of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes in an Aqueous Media by UV-Vis, Raman Spectroscopy, TGA, and FTIR

Abstract

This article evaluates the dispersion of multi-walled nanotubes (MWNTs) particles in an aqueous media by ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis), Raman spectroscopy, TGA, and FTIR with using two surfactants: sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and TritonX-100. UV-vis spectroscopy shows that for the same amount of Triton X-100 and SDS, Triton X-100 is able to disperse more MWNTs in aqueous media. The study of surface groups based on FTIR absorbance spectroscopy demonstrated that absorbance mechanism of surfactants on the surface of MWNTs is the interfacial interaction of –CH3 and alkyl groups when using SDS and ether groups when using Triton X-100. Presence of surface groups on MWNTs was confirmed by Raman spectroscopy and thermal gravimetric analysis.