Effect of Solvent Solubility Parameters on the Dispersion of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

A systematic study of the effect of a series of organic solvents on the dispersion of as-produced HiPco single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) has been conducted. UV−vis−NIR absorption spectroscopy coupled with an integrating sphere was employed to differentiate absorbance and scattering. For each solvent, a concentration-dependent study of the absorbance in the normal chamber and in the integrating sphere enabled the calculation of the total extinction coefficient and absorption coefficient. A correlation between the extinction/absorption coefficient and the Hildebrand and Hansen solvent parameters was established, indicating that polar interactions and hydrogen bonding dominate.