Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Applied Sciences: Research Areas

Article Title: Dispersion of Carbon Nanotubes in Different Solvents for Thin Films Applications
by R. Y. Suckeveriene R. Rahman, Sofia Napso, Yulia Matatov, and M. Narkis

Abstract:
Conductive thin transparent films are widely used in many commercial products, such as touch screens, photovoltaic cells, flexible displays, and more. The ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) films, currently in use are unlikely to satisfy the future demand owing to the escalating cost of indium, which is in limited supply. This short communication describes an empirical study of a process of carbon nanotubes (CNT) dispersion under sonication insolvents and dispersants. The method described is simple and very fast (~10 minutes) compared with the other literature reports. HRSEM images and surface resistivity imply that the good CNT dispersion leads to a remarkable improvement in separation and dispersion of the CNT in the organic solvents, which otherwise would rapidly coagulate and settle. Cyclohexyl-2-pyrrolidone (CHP) was found as having the lowest surface resistivity and best adhesion to the substrate surface. The film's resistivity and light transparency decrease while haze increases as the film's thickness increases. Some films exhibited remarkable promising results: Less than 5% haze, surface resistivity of 1.6 k?/?, and ~60% light transparency. __________________________________________________________________________________________ Keywords: Dispersion of Carbon Nanotubes in Different Solvents for Thin Films Applications R. Y. Suckeveriene1,2, R. Rahman1, Sofia Napso1, Yulia Matatov1, andM. Narkis1 1Department of Chemical Engineering , Technion - IIT, Haifa 3200003, Israel. 2Kinneret College in the Jordan Valley, Department of Water Industries Engineering, Zemach 15132, Israel. Corresponding Author: M. Narkis1 _________________________________________________________________________________________ Abstract Conductive thin transparent films are widely used in many commercial products, such as touch screens, photovoltaic cells, flexible displays, and more. The ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) films, currently in use are unlikely to satisfy the future demand owing to the escalating cost of indium, which is in limited supply. This short communication describes an empirical study of a process of carbon nanotubes (CNT) dispersion under sonication insolvents and dispersants. The method described is simple and very fast (~10 minutes) compared with the other literature reports. HRSEM images and surface resistivity imply that the good CNT dispersion leads to a remarkable improvement in separation and dispersion of the CNT in the organic solvents, which otherwise would rapidly coagulate and settle. Cyclohexyl-2-pyrrolidone (CHP) was found as having the lowest surface resistivity and best adhesion to the substrate surface. The film's resistivity and light transparency decrease while haze increases as the film's thickness increases. Some films exhibited remarkable promising results: Less than 5% haze, surface resistivity of 1.6 k?/?, and ~60% light transparency.

Keywords: nanomaterials, carbon nanotubes, dispersion, organic solvents, conductive coatings, films

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