When carbon nanotubes in colloidal suspension or embedded in polymer composites enter aquatic environments or water treatment facilities they will be subject to photolysis, which could alter their structure and persistence. This prompted us to study the effect of 254 nm UV light on colloidal suspensions of oxidized multi-walled carbon nanotubes under a variety of solution conditions (pH and ionic strength). The colloidal stability was found to decrease at lower pH values and with increasing UV intensity in a single photon photodecarboxylation process. However, under all solution conditions photolysis ultimately lead to the formation of settleable aggregates in the absence of any structural changes or MWCNT mass loss. In contrast, comparative studies with oxidized single walled CNTs suggest that in some instances complete mineralization may be occurring during UV photolysis. Results will also be presented on the photochemical transformations of CNT-containing polymer nanocomposites.

Photochemical transformations of carbon nanotubes in suspension and embedded in polymer nanocomposites

246th National Meeting (2013)

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