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Influence of polar groups on the wetting properties of vertically aligned multiwalled carbon nanotube surfaces

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Abstract

In this work, we have studied superhydrophilic and superhydrophobic transitions on the vertically aligned multiwalled carbon nanotube (VACNT) surfaces. As-grown, the VACNT surfaces were superhydrophobic. Pure oxygen plasma etching modified the VACNT surfaces to generate superhydrophilic behavior. Irradiating the superhydrophilic VACNT surfaces with a CO2 laser (up to 50 kW cm−2) restored the superhydrophobicity to a level that depended on the laser intensity. Contact angle and surface energy measurements by the sessile drop method were used to examine the VACNT surface wetting. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) showed heavy grafting of the oxygen groups onto the VACNT surfaces after oxygen plasma etching and their gradual removal, which also depended on the CO2 laser intensity. These results show the great influence of polar groups on the wetting behavior, with a strong correlation between the polar part of the surface energy and the oxygen content on the VACNT surfaces. In addition, the CO2 laser treatment created an interesting cage-like structure that may be responsible for the permanent superhydrophobic behavior observed on these samples.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by FAPESB (720/2009) and FAPESP (07/00013-4, 06/03525-3 and 2008/11642-5) and UNEB. Special thanks to Maria Lucia Brison (LAS/INPE) by the SEM images, and Marcelo E. H. Maia da Costa (PUC/Rio) by XPS spectra.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratorio Associado de Sensores e Materiais, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais, INPE, Avenida dos Astronautas, 1758, Jardim da Granja, São José dos Campos, SP, 12227-010, Brazil

    S. C. Ramos, E. F. Antunes, V. J. Trava-Airoldi & E. J. Corat

  2. Departamento de Ciências, Universidade do Estado da Bahia, UNEB, Centro, S/N, Caetité, BA, 46400-000, Brazil

    S. C. Ramos

  3. Laboratorio de Nanotecnologia Biomédica, Instituto de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento, IP&D, Universidade do Vale do Paraíba, UniVaP, Avenida Shishima Hifumi, 2911, Urbanova, São José dos Campos, SP, 12244-000, Brazil

    A. O. Lobo

  4. Instituto de Estudos Avançados, IEAv, Trevo Coronel Aviador José Albano do Amarante, 1, Putim, São José dos Campos, SP, 12228-001, Brazil

    G. de Vasconcelos

  5. Instituto Tecnologico de Aeronáutica (ITA), Praça Marechal Eduardo Gomes 50, São José dos Campos, SP, 12228-900, Brazil

    E. F. Antunes

Authors
  1. S. C. Ramos
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  2. A. O. Lobo
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  3. G. de Vasconcelos
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  4. E. F. Antunes
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  5. V. J. Trava-Airoldi
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  6. E. J. Corat
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. C. Ramos.

Additional information

Dedicated to Professor Akira Imamura on the occasion of his 77th birthday and published as part of the Imamura Festschrift Issue.

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Ramos, S.C., Lobo, A.O., de Vasconcelos, G. et al. Influence of polar groups on the wetting properties of vertically aligned multiwalled carbon nanotube surfaces. Theor Chem Acc 130, 1061–1069 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00214-011-0984-y

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