Realizing the uniform dispersion of nanocarbons such as carbon nanotube and graphene in metals, is an essential prerequisite to fully exhibit their enhancement effect in mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties of metal matrix composites (MMCs). In this work, we propose an effective method to achieve uniform distribution of nanocarbons in various metal flakes through a slurry-based method. It relies on the electrostatic interactions between the negatively charged nanocarbons and the positively charged metal flakes when mixed in slurry. For case study, flake metal powders (Al, Mg, Ti, Fe, and Cu) were positively charged in aqueous suspension by spontaneous ionization or cationic surface modification. While nanocarbons, given examples as carboxylic multi-walled carbon nanotubes, pristine single-walled carbon nanotube, and carbon nanotube-graphene oxide hybrid were negatively charged by the ionization of oxygen-containing functional groups or anionic surfactant. It was found that through the electrostatic interaction mechanism, all kinds of nanocarbons can be spontaneously and efficiently adsorbed onto the surface of various metal flakes. The development of such a versatile method would provide us great opportunities to fabricate advanced MMCs with appealing properties.

中文翻译：

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基于静电相互作用的金属基体中纳米碳均匀分散的通用方法。

实现碳纳米管、石墨烯等纳米碳在金属中的均匀分散，是充分发挥其对金属基复合材料（MMC）力学、热学和电学性能增强作用的必要前提。在这项工作中，我们提出了一种有效的方法，通过基于浆料的方法实现纳米碳在各种金属薄片中的均匀分布。它依赖于带负电的纳米碳和带正电的金属薄片在浆料中混合时之间的静电相互作用。在案例研究中，片状金属粉末（Al、Mg、Ti、Fe 和 Cu）通过自发电离或阳离子表面改性在水悬浮液中带正电。而纳米碳，例如羧基多壁碳纳米管、原始单壁碳纳米管和碳纳米管-氧化石墨烯杂化物，通过含氧官能团或阴离子表面活性剂的电离而带负电。研究发现，通过静电相互作用机制，各种纳米碳可以自发、高效地吸附到各种金属薄片的表面。这种多功能方法的开发将为我们提供绝佳的机会来制造具有吸引人特性的先进MMC。