Abstract
The authors have previously proposed a novel technique for the preparation of water-soluble carbon nanotubes (CNTs) using microplasma generated by a pulsed streamer discharge in water. This paper describes effects of pH values on water-solubility of single-walled CNT (SWCNT) treated by the microplasma. The SWCNT treated under basic conditions showed two times higher solubility compared to that treated under neutral condition, whereas the SWCNT solubility considerably decreased under acidic conditions. Based on optical emission measurements of microplasma showed that radical formation was not pH sensitive. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis showed that the microplasma treated SWCNT was functionalized with –COO- groups with little pH dependence. In contrary, clear pH dependence was observed for zeta potential of the microplasma-treated SWCNT. The lowest zeta potential was -46 mV, which was obtained with basic solution adjusted by NH3 (pH ≈9). The SWCNT treated under basic conditions was more negatively charged due to suppressed protonation of –COO- groups. As a result, the electrostatic repulsion force between SWCNTs could overcome van der Waals force improving their solubility and dispersibility in water.
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