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• Warren, H
• Panhuis, M
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• Warren, H
• Panhuis, M

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Nanomaterials 2011, 1(1), 3-19; doi:10.3390/nano1010003

Article

Films, Buckypapers and Fibers from Clay, Chitosan and Carbon Nanotubes

Thomas M. Higgins, Holly Warren and Marc in het Panhuis*

Soft Materials Group, School of Chemistry, University of Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia

* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received: 10 February 2011; in revised form: 17 March 2011 / Accepted: 23 March 2011 / Published: 6 April 2011

Download PDF Full-Text [9412 KB, uploaded 6 April 2011 12:23 CEST]

Abstract: The mechanical and electrical characteristics of films, buckypapers and fiber materials from combinations of clay, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and chitosan are described. The rheological time-dependent characteristics of clay are maintained in clay–carbon nanotube–chitosan composite dispersions. It is demonstrated that the addition of chitosan improves their mechanical characteristics, but decreases electrical conductivity by three-orders of magnitude compared to clay–CNT materials. We show that the electrical response upon exposure to humid atmosphere is influenced by clay-chitosan interactions, i.e., the resistance of clay–CNT materials decreases, whereas that of clay–CNT–chitosan increases.

Keywords: chitosan; clay; carbon nanotubes; electrical; mechanical

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