Determination of the orientation distribution function in aligned single wall nanotube polymer nanocomposites by polarized Raman spectroscopy

Ricardo Ṕrez, Sumanth Banda, Zoubeida Ounaies

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

45 Scopus citations

Abstract

This work focuses on the derivation of the orientation distribution function (ODF) for a uniaxial-axially symmetric system using polarized Raman spectroscopy. A numerical methodology is proposed to determine the ODF that is formulated in terms of Legendre polynomials and the principle of maximum information entropy. The ultimate goal is to quantify the alignment of single wall nanotubes (SWNTs) in a polymer matrix using the experimental information from the Raman intensity. Some of the mathematical and numerical steps in the determination of ODF, not clarified in the current literature, are shown in this work. The proposed numerical methodology to obtain the ODF is illustrated using an experimental case. Electric field-aligned SWNT-urethane dimethacrylate/1,6- hexanediol dimethacrylate nanocomposites are investigated at different processing conditions to bring forward factors that may enhance the alignment of SWNT inclusions in the polymer. ODF results indicate that the higher electric field frequencies produce a good alignment of the SWNT inclusions; a result also corroborated by optical microscopy imaging and electrical conductivity measurements.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number074302
JournalJournal of Applied Physics
Volume103
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - 2008

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Physics and Astronomy

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Determination of the orientation distribution function in aligned single wall nanotube polymer nanocomposites by polarized Raman spectroscopy'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this