Thursday November 27, we will have the pleasure to host Jérôme Claverie (Université de Sherbrooke) for a SIMM Seminar entitled « Functional Polyelectrolyte Dispersants: Mechanistic Insights and Applications in Printed and Coated Materials ».
The seminar will take place at 2 pm in Amphi Charpak.Functional Polyelectrolyte Dispersants: Mechanistic Insights and Applications in Printed and Coated Materials.
When oxide or carbon-based particles are stabilized using polyelectrolytes, a distinct molecular-weight segregation phenomenon occurs whereby only chains within a specific molecular-weight effectively adsorb onto the particle surface. Building on this observation, we designed a series of tailored dispersants optimized for both inorganic oxides and carbon nanomaterials. Using these dispersants, we formulated conductive inks based on carbon nanotubes that remain stable even in low-polarity media such as alkanes.
While dispersants enable robust colloidal stability, they can significantly impede electronic conductivity once embedded in a final coating. To overcome this limitation, we developed ephemeral dispersants—polymeric stabilizers engineered to evaporate under mild conditions upon exposure to a defined stimulus. These materials provide excellent dispersion during processing yet vanish afterward, allowing the efficient printing of carbon nanotubes and graphene with minimal insulating residue.
Finally, we demonstrate the role of dispersants in directing hydrothermal synthesis of inorganic oxides, enabling access to a versatile library of semiconducting particles with enhanced photocatalytic activity.
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