Effect of surfactant concentration on the evaporation-driven deposition of carbon nanotubes: from coffee-ring effect to strain sensing.

ABSTRACT: Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as electrically conductive materials are of great importance in the fabrication of flexible electronic devices and wearable sensors. In this regard, the evaporation-driven self-assembly of CNTs has attracted increasing attention. CNT-based applications are mostly concerned with the alignment of CNTs and the density of CNT films. In the present work, we focus on the latter by trying to achieve an optimal evaporation-driven deposition with the densest CNT ring. Although surfactants are used for effective dispersion and colloidal stabilization of CNTs in the aqueous phase, their excessive usage induces Marangoni eddies in the evaporating sessile droplets, leading to poor ring depositions. Thus, there is an optimum surfactant concentration that contributes to CNTs deagg

SUBMITTER: Inanlu MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9638968 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature