Synthesis and electrorheological characteristics of titanate nanotube suspensions under oscillatory shear

In this study, titanate nanotubes (TNTs) were synthesized by hydrothermal treatment of TiO2 powders (P25) in a NaOH solution. The as-synthesized TNTs exhibit high surface area and large aspect ratio. Rheological properties of TNTs suspensions were then investigated under oscillatory shear. The TNTs fluid shows the viscoelastic behavior and the dynamic moduli (G′, G″) increase significantly by about 4 orders of magnitude as the electric field strength is up to 2.0 kV/mm. Transient response under dynamic shear reveals different changes in the microstructure of TNTs fluid from steady shear. The complex modulus of TNTs fluids is sensitive to temperature while that of P25 fluid become insensitive at higher temperature. Dynamic viscoelastic behavior suggests that structure of P25 to TNTs transition merits the enhancement of ER activity of TNTs fluid.