Transmission Electron Microscopy Studies in Single Wall Carbon Nanotube/Polymer composite fibers

摘要

Dispersion and exfoliation of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) have been studied in poly(acrylonitrile) (PAN), poly(p-phenylene benzobisoxazole) (PBO) solutions, and composite fibers using transmission electron microscopy. Close observation of the SWNT/PAN (5/95) composite fibers revealed that as a result of polymer assisted dispersion and exfoliation, the average SWNT bundle diameter in SWNT/PAN (5/95) was 11 nm, while the average diameter for the pristine SWNT bundles was about 30 nm. In addition, high resolution TEM of SWNT/PBO (10/90) composite fibers did not reveal the presence of SWNT aggregates or bundles, suggesting SWNT exfoliation as individuals. On the other hand, both oriented and unoriented nanotube bundles have been observed in SWNT/PBO samples containing 15 wt % nanotubes.