(774f) Investigation of Carbon Nanotubes & Cellulose Nanocrystals Composite for Potential Use in Microelectromechanical Systems

Mingzhe Jiang, Christopher L. Kitchens*

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Clemson University

The use of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) in high performance coatings is attractive for micro-scale structures or device fabrication due to the anisotropic geometry, however CNC are insulating materials. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are also rod-shaped nanomaterials that display high mechanical strength and electrical conductivity. The hydrophobic regions of surface-modified CNCs can interact with hydrophobic CNT, and thus aid in association between CNTs and CNCs. CNCs’ long-range electrostatic repulsion also plays a role in forming a stable CNT/CNC water dispersion. The sonication-driven dispersion and dispersing capacity of multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and single wall carbon nanotube (SWCNTs) assisted by CNCs in aqueous solution has been measrued by UV–vis spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy. Conductive and anisotropic hybrid films (5 ~ 20 μm) are casted on piranha acid treated, glass microscope slides by blade coating with concentrated (above 12 wt%) CNT/CNC aqueous dispersion. The films were then examined for orientation of both CNTs and CNCs by polarized light and Wide Angle Xray Scattering. It was observed that CNCs with different concentration provide different dispersing capacity for Multi-Wall Carbon Nanotubes in aqueous solution and that the use of blade coating gives thin films an anisotropic conductive property, comparing to non-aligned film (naturally dried mixing solution on petri-dish). CNCs with different charge density have also been introduced as alternatives for improving the final hybrid film property.