"EFFECT OF SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE (SLS)/CARBON NANOTUBES ON THE PROPERTIES OF CELLULOSE MEMBRANE ISOLATED FROM MAIZE STALK"

Abstract

"Composite systems made of a cellulose matrix reinforced with carbon nanotubes are promising materials for different applications, such as portable electronic and medical diagnostics devices. The properties of such systems are dependent on the dispersion of the carbon nanotubes within the nanocomposite product. This study reports on the fabrication and characterization of cellulose/carbon nanotubes (CNTs) composite membranes in the absence and presence of sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) via the vacuum filtration process. SLS was used in order to improve the dispersion of CNTs. The nanocomposite membrane was prepared in three CNTs:cellulose ratios, viz. 1:1; 1:0.5; 1:0.3. The resulting membranes were analysed by means of SEM, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). SEM and TEM images showed that the presence of sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) resulted in a better dispersion of the carbon nanotubes within the cellulose matrix with few visible agglomerates. The incorporation of CNTs in the absence of SLS resulted in superior thermal stability, when compared to SLS-based composite and neat cellulose membranes. The FTIR spectra of the membrane formed in the presence of SLS showed symmetric and asymmetric peaks for SLS, while, naturally, these peaks were absent in the membrane without SLS, which confirmed the presence of SLS in SWCNT."