Dielectrophoretic behavior of ionic surfactant-solubilized carbon nanotubes

The deposition of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), suspended in aqueous sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) solution, to predefined microelectrodes using alternating current dielectrophoresis is found to strongly depend on the frequency and SDBS concentration. The deposition rate of CNTs increases with increasing frequency. At high SDBS concentrations, the alignment of CNTs between electrode pairs is only achievable at high frequencies above 1 MHz. The morphology of the deposited CNTs relative to the electrodes varies with the SDBS concentration. The experimental observations are discussed by treating the CNTs as a rigid rod.