Dielectrophoretic modeling of the dynamic carbon nanotube network formation in viscous media under alternating current electric fields

• Published in: Carbon (New York) Vol. 69; pp. 342 - 354
• Main Authors: Oliva-Avilés, A.I., Avilés, F., Sosa, V., Seidel, G.D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-04-2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Alternating current; Aspect ratio; Carbon; Carbon nanotubes; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Dynamics; Electric fields; Exact sciences and technology; Fullerenes and related materials; diamonds, graphite; Liquids; Materials science; Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization; Nanotubes; Networks; Physics; Specific materials; Alternating field; Dynamics; Electric field effects; Carbon nanotubes; Modelling; Electric fields; Alternating current
• ISSN: 0008-6223; 1873-3891
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbon.2013.12.035

The dynamic formation of carbon nanotube (CNT) networks in liquids under the application of an alternating current electric field is investigated using the effective dipole modeling approach. Three mechanisms are investigated by a set of three independent nonlinear differential equations derived from dielectrophoretic theory, viz. CNT rotation, CNT-to-CNT Coulombic interactions, and CNT migration towards an electrode. The models consider the effect of the electric field magnitude and frequency, the CNT’s concentration and aspect ratio, and the viscosity of the surrounding medium. A layer at the CNT/liquid interface is included and the effect of such a layer’s permittivity, electrical conductivity and thickness is investigated. Modeling predictions allow the reconstruction of the dynamic sequence of events leading to an aligned CNT network, which strongly depends on the CNT’s aspect ratio and concentration. Experimental trends regarding the effect of frequency can only be captured by considering an interface layer in the model.