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Kinetics of single-walled carbon nanotube migration in epoxy resin under DC electric field

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Abstract

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) orient in a polymer matrix under electric field due to their highly anisotropic electric polarizability. Under direct current (DC) electric field, CNT also migrates toward electrodes resulting in a non-uniform CNT concentration which can affect the properties gained from CNT alignment. In this study, DC electric field was applied across a CNT/epoxy mixture and the kinetics of CNT migration were studied in real time as a function of electric field strength, CNT concentration and length distribution. The rate constant k of CNT migration was found to be linearly proportional to the electric field strength, while varying the CNT concentration and length distribution exhibited a minimal effect on the migration velocity. Combined with our previous study of the temperature dependence of CNT migration, the relationship between the rate constant k of CNT migration and electric field strength, CNT concentration and length distribution was established. The resulting relationship can be used to manipulate the spatial distribution of CNT to selectively enhance the mechanical, thermal and electrical properties of CNT/polymer composites.

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taken from the experiment at 250 V/cm at 30 °C (the setting temperature of Q-Pod)

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful for the helpful discussions provided by Dr. Wesley Chapkin graduated from University of Michigan. The authors also wish to thank Connor Saukas graduated from University of Michigan for setting up the experiment and Xingkang She for the assistance during the experiment.

Funding

The work was financially supported by the University of Michigan and the program of China Scholarships Council (No. 201706290165).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, 710072, P.R. China

    Dandan Zhang & Rumin Wang

  2. Department of Materials Science and Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA

    Dandan Zhang, Yipeng He & Alan I. Taub

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Zhang, D., He, Y., Wang, R. et al. Kinetics of single-walled carbon nanotube migration in epoxy resin under DC electric field. Appl. Phys. A 128, 10 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-021-05170-9

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