Preparation of carbon nanotube ink via organic hydrazine treatment

In this study, we used four different hydrazines to react with CNTs to prepare CNT-based inks. We found that the ink with CNTs subjected to the 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine treatment exhibited much better dispersion property than the inks with CNTs treated with other organic hydrazines. In other words, within 3 days, all ink dispersions began to bundle and precipitate after the sample vials were left on the bench top in our lab, except the sample with CNTs treated with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine. Most importantly, the ink sample with CNTs treated with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine were still well dispersed even after the sample vial was left on the bench top for 6 months.