Hielscher recommends high performance ultrasonic processors for dispersing SWCNTs
According to the company, ultrasonication is an effective method of dispersion and deagglomeration of carbon nanotubes.
Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (SWCNTs) are highly cohesive, so one of the major obstacles in processing SWCNTs is the inherent insolubility of the tubes in organic solvents or water.
To use the full potential of SWCNTs, a reliable and scalable deagglomeration process of the tubes is needed.
At the moment, SWCNTs are mostly dispersed as bundles rather than individual deagglomerated ropes.
If the conditions during dispersion are too harsh, the SWCNTs will be shortened to lengths between 80 to 200nm.
For the majority of practical applications, such as for semiconducting or reinforcing SWCNTs, this length is too small.
Ultrasonic cavitation is suitable because it creates a high sheer force.
The liquid jet streams resulting from ultrasonic cavitation, overcome the bonding forces between the tubes and hence, the tubes become deagglomerated.
The group claims a mild, controlled ultrasonic treatment is an appropriate method to create surfactant-stabilised suspensions of dispersed SWCNTs with high length.
The accurate control of the ultrasonication amplitude limits damage the SWCNTs.
Hielscher offers ultrasonic processors for the sonication of every volume for use in the lab as well as in industry.
