Two-step percolation in aggregating systems

The two-step percolation behavior in aggregating systems was studied both experimentally and by means of Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. In experimental studies, the electrical conductivity, sigma, of colloidal suspension of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in decane was measured. The suspension was submitted to mechanical de-liquoring in a planar filtration-compression conductometric cell. During de-liquoring, the distance between the measuring electrodes continuously decreased and the CNT volume fraction phi continuously increased (from 10(-3) up to approximate to 0.3% v/v). The two percolation thresholds at phi 1 less than or similar to 10(-3) and phi 2 approximate to 10(-2) can reflect the interpenetration of loose CNT aggregates and percolation across the compact conducting aggregates, respectively. The MC computational model accounted for the core-shell structure of conducting particles or their aggregates, the tendency of a particle for aggregation, the formation of solvation shells, and the elongated geometry of the conductometric cell. The MC studies revealed two smoothed percolation transitions in sigma (phi) dependencies that correspond to the percolation through the shells and cores, respectively. The data demonstrated a noticeable impact of particle aggregation on anisotropy in electrical conductivity sigma (phi) measured along different directions in the conductometric cell.