Simple Method to Improve Electrical Conductivity of Films Made from Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Despite the widespread use of sonication for individualization of nanomaterials, its destructive nature is rarely acknowledged. In this study, we demonstrated how exposure of the material to a hostile sound wave environment can be limited by the application of another preprocessing step. Single-wall...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Bogumiła Kumanek, Tomasz Wasiak, Grzegorz Stando, Paweł Stando, Dariusz Łukowiec, Dawid Janas
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2019-08-01
Series:Nanomaterials
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/9/8/1113
Description
Summary:Despite the widespread use of sonication for individualization of nanomaterials, its destructive nature is rarely acknowledged. In this study, we demonstrated how exposure of the material to a hostile sound wave environment can be limited by the application of another preprocessing step. Single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were initially ground in a household coffee grinder, which enabled facile deagglomeration thereof. Such a simple approach enabled us to obtain high-quality CNT dispersion at reduced sonication time. Most importantly, electrical conductivity of free-standing films prepared from these dispersion was improved almost fourfold as compared with unground material eventually reaching 1067 ± 34 S/cm. This work presents a new approach as to how electrical properties of nanocarbon ensembles may be enhanced without the application of doping agents, the presence of which is often ephemeral.
ISSN:2079-4991