Solvent specific evaporation properties from the surface of carbon nanotube buckypapers doped by hydrophilic 1D nanomaterials

Abstract

Non-functionalized carbon nanotube based self-supporting buckypaper doped by hydrophilic imogolite nanotube was prepared as a first step. This novel composite was characterized by SEM with EDX and was studied comprehensively to determine the wetting and evaporation processes. The wetting and vaporization of 5 μL drops from acetone, water, methanol, ethanol and 2-propanol were monitored at 51 °C in parallel by mass (m) and electrical resistance (R) measurements as well as by thermography. The mass loss curves and the evaporation profiles (determined from R measurements) are characteristic for the vaporizing fluids. Pearson correlation coefficients method was used to describe the relationship between the physical properties of the liquids and the parameters characteristic for the vaporization determined from the m and R measurements. These relationships are promising for a potential analytical application.

Solvent specific evaporation properties of carbon nanotube buckypapers doped by different hydrophilic 1D nanomaterials were characterized as a second step. The results were compared for the prepared layered structured buckypaper doped by imogolite nanotube and for a mixed structured buckypaper doped by goethite nanowire. Wetting and vaporization process of water was described for both composites by the simultaneous analysis of the thermography, m and R measurements. The presence of hydrophilic 1D nanomaterials changed the evaporation profiles characteristic for the liquids and for the doping materials, which shows the power of the used method.