A study on the electrical conductivity of multi-walled carbon nanotube aqueous solution

Abstract

The electrical conductivity was investigated for multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) dissolved in chloroform and toluene, respectively. The electrical conductivity remarkably increased with increase in the content of MWNTs, which is in accordance with Archie's equation (σ/σ0 = aφ1m). Furthermore, a hypothesis of the electronic transport process was proposed 'to explain the difference between the solution and the solid compound. In addition, the temperature dependence of the electrical conductivity shows that log σ vs. 1/T exist in a good linear relationship. The activation energy of the electrical conductivity decreased with increase in concentration and an inflexion was observed at 60°C in MWNT/toluene solution. Show more