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Title: Imaging latex–carbon nanotube composites by subsurface electrostatic force microscopy

Journal Article · · Nanotechnology
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [3];  [3];  [3]
  1. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-CA), Livermore, CA (United States); Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States)
  2. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-CA), Livermore, CA (United States); Naval Post Graduate School, Monterey, CA (United States)
  3. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-CA), Livermore, CA (United States)
+ Show Author Affiliations

Electrostatic modes of atomic force microscopy have shown to be non-destructive and relatively simple methods for imaging conductors embedded in insulating polymers. Here we use electrostatic force microscopy to image the dispersion of carbon nanotubes in a latex-based conductive composite, which brings forth features not observed in previously studied systems employing linear polymer films. A fixed-potential model of the probe-nanotube electrostatics is presented which in principle gives access to the conductive nanoparticle's depth and radius, and the polymer film dielectric constant. Comparing this model to the data results in nanotube depths that appear to be slightly above the film–air interface. Furthermore, this result suggests that water-mediated charge build-up at the film–air interface may be the source of electrostatic phase contrast in ambient conditions.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC04-94AL85000
OSTI ID:
1332173
Report Number(s):
SAND-2016-7751J; 646511; TRN: US1700172
Journal Information:
Nanotechnology, Vol. 27, Issue 41; ISSN 0957-4484
Publisher:
IOP PublishingCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 7 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

References (9)

Big returns from small fibers: A review of polymer/carbon nanotube composites journal January 2004
Nanotube surface functionalization effects in blended multiwalled carbon nanotube/PVDF composites journal November 2010
Mapping of individual carbon nanotubes in polymer/nanotube composites using electrostatic force microscopy journal April 2007
Sub-surface imaging of carbon nanotube–polymer composites using dynamic AFM methods journal March 2013
Subsurface imaging of carbon nanotube networks in polymers with DC-biased multifrequency dynamic atomic force microscopy journal March 2013
Depth-Sensitive Subsurface Imaging of Polymer Nanocomposites Using Second Harmonic Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy journal February 2015
Calibration of atomic‐force microscope tips journal July 1993
The Field of an Electric Dipole and the Polarizability of a Conducting Object Embedded in the Interface Between Dielectric Materials journal January 2009
Single functional group interactions with individual carbon nanotubes journal October 2007

Cited By (1)

Dielectric nanotomography based on electrostatic force microscopy: A numerical analysis journal January 2020

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Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
subsurface
atomic force microscopy
carbon nanotubes
nanocomposites