Study of ionic surfactants interactions with carboxylated single-walled carbon nanotubes by using ion-selective electrodes

•Potentiometric measurements are used to study surfactant/SWCNT interactions.•The hydrophobic interaction contribution is the driving force in the adsorption processes.•Electrostatic interactions play a major role in the dispersion processes.•A strong interaction does not assure a good dispersion.

Potentiometric measurements based on the use of ion-selective electrodes have been used to study the interaction (adsorption) of anionic and cationic surfactants with functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT–COOH). According to results, the interaction is driven by hydrophobic forces between the hydrocarbon tails of the surfactants and the nanotube walls. Electrostatic interactions practically exert no influence on the interaction. Driving forces in the dispersion processes are different.

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