Versatile acid solvents for pristine carbon nanotube assembly

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Traditional solvents like chlorosulfonic acid and oleum enable carbon nanotube (CNT) processing but pose chemical compatibility challenges.
• These limitations restrict equipment choices and substrate materials for CNT-based applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel, low-corrosivity acid solvent system for processing carbon nanotubes (CNTs).
• To demonstrate the versatility of the new solvent system in conventional manufacturing processes.
• To achieve scalable production of advanced CNT materials with high performance.

Main Methods:

• Formulation of a new solvent system using methanesulfonic or p-toluenesulfonic acids.
• Achieving true solutions of CNTs at concentrations up to 10 g/liter.
• Application of the solvent system to slot die coating, solution spinning, and 3D printing.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated successful dissolution of CNTs in the novel acid solvent system.
• Achieved state-of-the-art optoelectronic performance (83.6%T, 14 ohm/sq) via continuous slot coating at industrial speeds.
• Validated the system's compatibility with conventional manufacturing techniques.

Conclusions:

• The novel acid solvent system offers a practical and efficient method for scalable CNT processing.
• This advancement facilitates the creation of advanced CNT materials for a wide range of applications.
• The low corrosivity and versatility of the solvent system overcome previous manufacturing constraints.