Dispersion of Acid-Treated Carbon Nanofibers into Gel Matrices Prepared by the Sol−Gel Method

1-Naphthol has been used as an in-situ fluorescent probe to characterize the dispersibility of carbon nanofibers (CNFs) into the sol-gel matrix of silicon alkoxide. The ion-pair fluorescence of 1-naphthol was found in the gel dispersing acid-treated CNFs instead of 1Lb fluorescence, which was preferred in the low polar gel matrix. This indicates that 1-naphthol easily interacts with oxidized groups present on the surface of the acid-treated CNFs due to the high dispersibility of the CNFs into the gel matrix. The oxidized groups on the CNF surface are useful for preventing self-assembly and/or aggregation of the CNFs in the gel matrix.