Polymeric surfactants with tricyclic rigidity from natural rosin: Synthesis and dispersion of single-walled carbon nanotubes in aqueous solution

Abstract

Polymeric surfactants from natural rosin containing a unique tricyclic rigid structure were prepared and their structures were characterized by IR, ¹H NMR and GPC. Their surface activities including hydrophile—lipophile balance values (HLB), emulsification properties, foaming properties, critical micelle concentration (CMC) and the minimum surface tension (γCMC) were evaluated. With the increase in ratio of hydrophobic to hydrophilic in polymeric surfactant, the CMC values of the surfactants decreased, and the emulsification and foaming properties of these surfactants increased, and the HLB values of them decreased. This type of polymeric surfactants was used to disperse single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) in water, and their dispersal capacities were comparatively determined by UV-visible absorption spectroscopy. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was used to quantify the amount of surfactant attached onto the nanotubes. More intuitive image of their dispersion states were obtained by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The results showed that this type of polymeric surfactants had good dispersion capacity and dispersion stability to SWCNTs in water through strong hydrophobic attraction and weak van der Waals interactions.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Polymeric surfactant
• rigid
• dispersion
• carbon nanotubes
• hydrophobic attraction

Disclosure statement

There are no conflicts to declare.

Additional information

Funding

This research was financially supported by grants from National Natural Science Foundation of China (31622017 and 31470596) and Fundamental Research Foundation of the Central Commonwealth Institute of the Chinese Academy of Forestry (CAFYBB2018QC002).