Carbon Nanotube Ink Composition Using Imidazolidinone and Propylene Urea
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing carbon nanotube dispersions face challenges in achieving both excellent storage stability and printability, often requiring ionic surfactants that compromise printability and can cause issues with drying on printing devices.
Innovation Solution
A carbon nanotube ink composition incorporating an imidazolidinone compound and a propylene urea compound, which enhances dispersion stability and prevents drying on printing devices, while maintaining excellent printability through their cyclic imide structure and hydrocarbon groups.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If ionic surfactants or special dispersants are used to improve dispersibility and storage stability, then carbon nanotubes can be well-dispersed, but printability deteriorates and drying issues occur on printing devices
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical parameters of the dispersant system by using non-ionic surfactants with specific molecular structures (containing polyethylene oxide chains and hydrophobic groups) instead of traditional ionic surfactants. This parameter change allows the ink to maintain both dispersion stability and printability, resolving the contradiction between these two properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite dispersant systems combining multiple non-ionic surfactants with different molecular weights and structures. This composite approach provides both the steric stabilization needed for dispersion stability and the appropriate rheological properties for printability, eliminating the trade-off between these conflicting requirements.
2Reliability
If carbon nanotube concentration is increased to improve film conductivity, then electrical performance improves, but inkjet printability deteriorates due to nozzle clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The non-ionic surfactants act as intermediaries between carbon nanotubes and the inkjet system. They provide steric stabilization that prevents aggregation at high concentrations, allowing the ink to maintain high CNT content for good conductivity while remaining jettable without clogging.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the ink's rheological parameters through the use of non-ionic surfactants, achieving a balance where the ink has sufficient viscosity to prevent CNT settling but low enough shear stress to allow easy extrusion through inkjet nozzles even at high CNT concentrations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The composition achieves stable dispersion and prevents clogging in printing devices, ensuring long-term storage stability and effective printability, even after extended periods of inactivity.
Implementation Method 1
carbon nanotubes dispersed uniformly therein as a dispersoid
Implementation Method 2
carbon nanotube ink composition containing carbon nanotubes, a solvent, an imidazolidinone compound and a propylene urea compound
Implementation Method 3
preventing drying on printing devices
Implementation Method 4
enhance the ink's affinity to both carbon nanotubes and solvents
Data Source
AI summary
A carbon nanotube composition that exhibits an excellent printability when use is made for a printing device, especially, exhibits an excellent prevention of drying on the printing apparatus. A carbon nanotube ink composition comprises carbon nanotubes, a solvent, an imidazolidinone compound represented by chemical formula (1) and a propylene urea compound represented by chemical formula (2).