Has anybody measured the zeta potential of CNT nanofluid (suspended MWCNT nanoparticles in DI water)? I want to know if there is any problem with measuring the zeta potential of black suspentions.
Because of the opacity of the MWNFs, zeta potential could not be directly measured using the dynamic light scattering (DLS) method. Therefore, First centrifuge the test sample then clearer solution of 1.0 mL drawn from near the liquid surface should mix with 20 μL of the original sample for use as a test sample to determine .
Ref. Article Evaluating Stability of Aqueous Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube ...
In dark solution you wont get the correct results. so dilute the solution as clear as possible (mean while measure the dilution factor), then do DLS measurement and finally multiply the result with the dilution factor so you will get the exact result of your concentration.
Note: the suspended MWCNT nanoparticles in DI water should not settle.
What about the zeta potential, you only talked about DLS measurement (particle size), is it the same way possible for measuring zeta potential? (I mean first diluting and then multiplying the zeta potential by the dilution factor, is it correct?)
You need to get light in and out of the system for a light scattering electrophoretic measurement. This is not true for an electroacoustic method for measuring movement, but I have limited experience of that technique. Remember you're measuring a mobility and using an equation to convert that mobility to an inferred zeta potential If the system is crowded then you have hindered motion and the zeta potential will be incorrectly inferred. Your last statement above in parentheses is not correct.
Allow your suspension to settle a little (using the supernatant as your sample) and dilute in the ’mother liquor’ - the same continuous phase that the particles are in. You can recover this mother liquor by centrifugation, filtering, or a knowledge of the components.
DLS-nano zeta analyser will give you directly the zeta potential value. In general, the zeta potential value will be given in + & - values. The zeta potential value as to be greater thaan 30 in both + & -, which gives the solution you are analysing is stable disperse solution.
@ Arun. It is not correct to state that the zeta potential is measured directly in a DLS-zeta instrument. It is inferred from the electrophoretic mobility which is the parameter that is actually measured.