Preparation of Mono-Dispersed Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) with Dodecyl Itaconate and Its Utilization in Paper-Making

Xiao-Shui Wang

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DOI: 10.4236/eng.2011.31006                

Abstract

Dodecyl itaconate (DI) was used as the dispersant for preparation of mono-dispersed carbon nanotubes in aqueous solution in this study. It is a unique type of anionic surfactant synthesized by the authors, and its high capability for dispersing CNTs is attributed to the double bond moiety on its head-group. Furthermore, author mixed aqueous mono-dispersed CNTs with pulp to produce the CNT-based paper. Different from the reported papermaking process, a novel adjusting PH process was employed to prepare paper. This method could transfer easily dispersing mono-dispersed CNTs in aqueous onto the surfaces of cellulose fibers, because PH adjustment of CNT-pulp is from the initial neutrality to weak acidity and then raising to alkalinity, The dispersion of tubes in cellulose matrix and characteristics of composite were investigated. Also, electrical resistance for retrieved CNT-based sheets was measured using fore-probe method.

Keywords

Carbon Nanotube, Dodecyl Itaconate, Paper-Making

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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