Dispersion and stability of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in different solvents

Abstract

The coating of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on glass fiber (GF) via electrospray deposition requires a stable suspension of solutions to produce a homogeneous coating. To control dispersion of MWCNTs is a challenge due to the strong of van der Waals forces that lead to the aggregation of MWCNTs. In this study, several solvents such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and tetrahydrofuran (THF) were used to disperse MWCNTs. The characterizations were carried out using zeta potential analyzer and field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) to find the stability, particle size, and morphology of the MWCNTs dispersion coating on GF in varies solvent. Analysis by physical observation and the particle size analyzer proved that the dispersion of MWCNTs in NMP was the most stable. The Zeta value of the MWCNTs dispersion in the NMP also showed the highest value at -31 compared to DMF and THF. During FESEM characterization of the MWCNTs coating on GF in the different solvent, dispersion of MWCNTs in NMP showed the most homogeneous coating among these solvents.