I am trying to disperse carboxylic functionalized carbon nanotubes in IPA. Few months back, i successfully dispersed these nanotubes in IPA. The dispersion was quite homogeneous.
Recently i tried to prepare the dispersion in IPA using same functionalized carbon nanotubes. However, this time dispersion was not good. CNTs are almost settled down.
Now i am confused with this behaviour.
I have a doubt regarding stability of functionalization. With time do the functional groups are stable? or CNTs loose their functionalization with time (storage time in air ambient).
CNTs used in our experiments are acid functionalized.
If there is no dispersion stability, then the charge of the nanotubes has changed. Try to disperse them in water, dry, and then re-disperse in isopropyl alcohol. If the charge does not appear (dispersion stability), then this will be a signal of the decay of the carboxyl group.
Measure the pH and zeta potential of suspensions if this is possible. This should put you in the right direction towards determining the conditions for good dispersion...
Be careful for nano carbon tube as I know there is a danger to treat with it .
difficult to find out the reason, maybe change in air humidity or release of some volatile components (including drying), adsorption of contaminants from air, tighter agglomeration of nanotubes. Would not think that functionalization is lost.
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