Electrically developed morphology of carbon nanoparticles in suspensions monitored by in situ optical observations under sinusoidal electric field

In situ optical observations were performed for suspensions composed of carbon nanoparticles under the sinusoidal electric field with an amplitude around 20 kV/mm (volt per micrometer) and various frequencies. For extremely diluted suspensions of mixed fullerenes or multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) in a silicone oil, the dark-field optical microscopy was effective for the in situ observation of the particle behavior under the electric field. The nanoparticles in a fullerene suspension under the sinusoidal electric field with a frequency of 100 Hz (in short, 100 Hz electric field) were aggregated to form a rigid spherical microstructure around the halfway between the electrodes. On the other hand, the nanoparticles in an MWNT suspension under 100 Hz electric field were also aggregated but aligned to form a chain-like microstructure which spans the electrodes. Both of the aggregated particles were stable even after the removal of the electric field, and they were redispersed by application of 10 Hz electric field.