Self-assembly of carbon nanotubes modified by hydropropylcellulose in aqueous solution

Hydropropylcellulose (HPC)-modified multi-wall carbon nanotubes (HPC-MWCNTs) were prepared by physical adsorption of HPC on the surface of MWCNTs. The modification decreased the contact angle of water on HPC-MWCNTs and increased their water dispersion ability. However, HPC-MWCNTs dispersed in water were not stable and precipitated on the bottom of the container after 2 days as cylindrical bundles with a diameter of 4–8 μm and a length of 25–35 μm. The cylindrical bundles were formed by self-assembly of HPC-MWCNTs by hydrophilic and hydrophobic interactions. arbon Materials 2013, 29(1): 26–33]