Using 1

4-butane sultone as a sulfonating agent and C6H12Br2 as an alkyl chain cross-linking agent

a new family of water soluble alkyl chain cross-linked sulfobutylated lignosulfonates (AASLS) was readily prepared by one step reaction in water

which simultaneously improved sulfonation degree and molecular weight. FTIR

1H NMR

functional group content tests and GPC confirmed their cross-linked chemical structure and efficient nucleophilic substitution reaction mechanism. The dispersion properties of AASLS-carbon nanotubes (CNT) suspension system were systematically studied. The results showed that when the dosage was 2% (mass)

AASLS-CNT suspensions had a higher absorption at 660 nm with a higher suspension stability than that in polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) and sodium polystyrene sulfonate (PSS). Moreover

the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) indicated that the incorporation of AASLS could effectively solve the problem of the agglomeration of CNT. The Raman absorption spectra showed that the I1350/I1580 value of CNT was effectively reduced by the non-covalent functionalization of AASLS

showing that the density of surface defects was decreased. In cyclic voltammogram (CV) test of AASLS-CNT

it was found that AASLS-CNT showed the quasi reversible redox behaviors.