28am2-F-5 Wettability Evaluation of a Carbon Nanotube by Force Measurement : Dependence on Diameter

Abstract

Wettability of an isolated Carbon Nanotube (CNT) with various diameter was evaluated by force measurement using atomic force microscope (AFM). In CNT diameter with 4.5 to 10nm, we have found that curvature of CNT affect the solid-liquid surface energy (surface tension). That is to say, wettability of CNT will be different from the flat graphene surface. This finding is in good agreement with the theoretical calculation reported by A. V. Neimark (1999). To the contrary, in CNT diameter under 4.5nm, our results showed apparently different tendency.