Determining the Controlling Mechanism of Electrostatically Induced Carbon Nanotube Rotation Using In Situ, Real-Time Polarized Raman Spectroscopy

Abstract

Carbon nanotube rotation induced by an electric field is analyzed using in situ, real-time polarized Raman spectroscopy. This technique for monitoring a dynamic system enables a measurement of the change in carbon nanotube alignment for various field strengths and temperatures as a function of time after the field is applied. The calculated activation energy of carbon nanotube rotation is similar to that of the viscous flow of the thermoset polymer matrix. The experimental results are compared to theoretical work from the literature concerning the diffusion of rigid rods in polymer melts, which indicate a bulk viscosity controlling mechanism for carbon nanotube rotation.