%0 Journal Article
%T Films, Buckypapers and Fibers from Clay, Chitosan and Carbon Nanotubes
%A Thomas M. Higgins
%A Holly Warren
%A Marc in het Panhuis
%J Nanomaterials
%D 2011
%I MDPI AG
%R 10.3390/nano1010003
%X The mechanical and electrical characteristics of films, buckypapers and fiber materials from combinations of clay, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and chitosan are described. The rheological time-dependent characteristics of clay are maintained in clay每carbon nanotube每chitosan composite dispersions. It is demonstrated that the addition of chitosan improves their mechanical characteristics, but decreases electrical conductivity by three-orders of magnitude compared to clay每CNT materials. We show that the electrical response upon exposure to humid atmosphere is influenced by clay-chitosan interactions, i.e., the resistance of clay每CNT materials decreases, whereas that of clay每CNT每chitosan increases.
%K chitosan
%K clay
%K carbon nanotubes
%K electrical
%K mechanical
%U http://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/1/1/3