We have investigated the effect of dissolving organic polymers on the dispersion of VGCF (vapor-grown carbon fiber)
TM in various organic solvents through optical microscope observation. VGCF
TM as received had aggregated structure with particle shapes having a broad diameter distribution. We have used tetrahydrofran (THF), dimethylformamid (DMF), benzene (BZ), and dichloromethane (DCM) as organic solvents, and polycarbonate (PC), polystyrene (PS), and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) as organic polymers. After stirring VGCF
TM in each organic solvent, most VGCF
TM was remained as the aggregated particle structure which had similar structure as received. However, it was found that VGCF
TM aggregated particles disappeared and were dispersed individually by dissolving organic polymers in the solvents after stirring for 30min. We have discussed the correlation between the polymer structures and the dispersion of VGCF
TM. Furthermore, several drops of THF/PC solution containing individually dispersed VGCF
TM, which was the best composition in the series of experiments which used four solvents and three polymers, was put on a cover glass, and THF was removed by spin coating, resulting in PC/VGCF
TM thin film on the cover glass. PC was decomposed by heat treatment, and only dispersed VGCF
TM whose both ends were clearly observed on the cover glass were finally obtained. Through measuring the length of VGCF
TM by SEM with the help of an image analysis soft ware, the exact averaged length was determined.
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