CARBON/POLYMER NANOCOMPOSITE FOR ELECTRONICAPPLICATIONS: DISPERSION PROPERTIES OF CARBONBASED NANOPARTICLES IN AQUEOUS ENVIRONMENT ANDTOXICOLOGICAL IMPACTS

摘要

Polymeric matrices filled with carbon nanoparticles are commonly employed in the fabrication ofchemical sensors. When carbon/polymer nanocomposite come into contact with a substance, that ischemically compatible with the polymeric matrix, its conductivity gradually decreases with the exposureto the substance. This change in the nanocomposite electric properties is at the base of chemicalsensors functioning. Because of their fascinating electric, thermal and mechanical properties, carbonbased nanoparticles are most widely used in the preparation of nanocomposites for numerousapplications. The potential risks of their widespread use, as well as their possible positive impact arejust beginning to take place. An adequate physical and chemical characterization of the materials isrequired in order to investigate the toxicological properties of nanomaterials. The dynamics ofdispersion, the rate of dissolution, the characteristics of nanoparticles aggregates are all relevant to thebehaviour of, and responses to, nanoparticles in biological and ecological systems. Moreover, thedispersion of nanoparticles in aqueous media and the stability of these preparations is a critical step inperforming toxicological tests.