Preparation and characterization of multilayered polymer nanotube dispersions

Despite considerable efforts to synthesize nanotubes using porous alumina or polycarbonate membrane templates, few studies have addressed the resulting nanotube dispersion. We prepared dispersions of multilayered polyethylenimine/maleic anhydride alternating copolymer (PEI/MAAC) nanotubes synthesized with porous alumina templates. After mechanical polishing to remove the residual polymer surface layer from templates and subsequent template dissolution, the multilayered PEI/MAAC nanotubes were easily dispersed in water at neutral pH by polyelectrolyte adsorption, producing nanotube dispersions that were stable for at least 3 months. We characterized the dispersions using phase-contrast optical microscopy, electro-optics, electrophoresis, and viscometry to help understand their colloidal properties in the dilute and semidilute regimes. The dispersions were resistant to salt-induced aggregation up to at least 1 mM NaCl and were optically anisotropic when subjected to an electric field or flow. Interestingly, the electrophoretic mobility of polystyrene sulfonate (PSS)-stabilized nanotubes increases with increasing ionic strength, because of the high surface charge and softness of the adsorbed polyelectrolyte. Furthermore, unlike many rod-like colloid systems, the polymer nanotube dispersion has low viscosity because of weak rotary Brownian motions and strong tendency to shear thinning. At the high shear rates achieved in capillary viscometry experiments, however, we observed a slight shear thickening, which can be attributed to transient hydrocluster formation.