| Title | Surface modification and zeta potentials of carbon nanotube polystyrene nanocomposites |
| Publication Type | Journal Article |
| Year of Publication | 2007 |
| Authors | Ellis, A.V., Wallace S., and Arnold W.M. |
| Journal | Materials Forum |
| Volume | 31 |
| Pagination | 110 - 115 |
| Date Published | 2007 |
| ISSN | 08832900 (ISSN) |
| Keywords | Analysis time, biological analysis, Carbon nanotubes, characterisation, chemical modification, Disposability, Micro-fluidic devices, nano tube, Nanocomposites, Nanofluidics, Nanopores, Nanostructured materials, Nanostructures, Nanotechnology, Nanotubes, Point of care testing, polymerisation, Polystyrene nanocomposites, Reagent consumption, Surface charge, Surface charge densities, surface modifications, Surface testing, Wide-range, Zeta potential |
| Abstract | Microfluidic devices offer significant benefits to chemical and biological analysis, including portability for point-of-care testing, disposability, and minimal reagent consumption, analysis time and cost of manufacture. Polymers used in these devices exhibit a wide range of surface charge densities and therefore zeta potentials. Here we report the characterisation of a thionated carbon nanotube polystyrene (tCNT/PS) composite formed by a RAFT polymerisation technique using Raman scattering and 1H NMR spectroscopies. The composite is formed by selectively thiolating carboxyl and hydroxyl groups on acid treated nanotubes using a versatile catalyst, phosphorus pentasulfide (P4S10). This produces dithioester groups which are then used as chain transfer agents in the RAFT polymerisation. It is through this technique that the polystyrene becomes covalently bound to the nanotube surface. We study the zeta potential of these surfaces as a function of oxygen plasma oxidation and compared them to pristine polystyrene. © Institute of Materials Engineering Australasia Ltd. |
| URL | http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-45849148448&partnerID=40&md5=c03d98a17e2a1f01dd21177a56d2d231 |
