Improved field emission stability and uniformity of printed carbon nanotubes prepared using high energy-milled glass frit

Stable and uniform electron field emitters were fabricated by the screen-printing of a carbon nanotube (CNT) paste. The CNT paste was prepared by mixing thin multi-walled CNTs, organic binder and glass frits in terpineol followed by three-roll milling. The paste was screen-printed onto an indium tin oxide (ITO)-coated glass substrate and exposed to firing. The emitters formed by the adhesive tape treatment of the printed pastes generally showed non-uniform heights of emitting tips due to the large-sized glass frit distributed in the paste. On the other hand, small glass frits with a uniform particle size distribution could be obtained by high energy milling. In addition, the CNT paste prepared using the high energy-milled glass frits showed very uniform tip heights. The uniform CNT tip height was found to play an important role in acquiring the long-term emission stability and uniformity of field emitters.     

Field emission from self-assembly structure of carbon-nanotube films

Chemical vapor deposited (CVD) carbon nanotube (CNT) arrays were immersed in ethanol to make shrunk structures with separate nanotube “walls” for better field emission properties, such structures decreased the screening effects and reduced the turn-on electric field at 10 μA/cm² from 1.68 to 1.23 V/μm. The field enhancement factor was calculated to increase by 23% according to Fowler–Nordheim (F–N) equation. The number of emission sites also increased and their distribution was more uniform.     

Fe掺杂碳纳米管吸附甲硝唑的第一性原理计算

甲硝唑(MNZ)的滥用对水环境造成了严重的污染.本文采用第一性原理计算的方法，研究了单壁碳纳米管(CNT)和Fe掺杂碳纳米管(Fe-CNT)对MNZ的吸附作用.分别计算了单壁CNT和Fe-CNT与MNZ的吸附结构、吸附能、电子轨道、电荷转移、态密度等.结果表明原始CNT对MNZ吸附作用较弱，而Fe-CNT与MNZ的相互作用明显增强.因此，Fe-CNT有望成为吸附水中污染物MNZ的候选材料.     

基于丝网印刷技术的碳纳米管场发射冷阴极制作

制备了一种新型碳纳米管浆料,并总结了一套阴极制作工艺.实验表明,质量比约为10%的纯化碳纳米管、5%的纳米金属粉末和有机材料混合形成的印刷浆料,其阴极具有较好的发射均匀特性.在浆料制备过程中通过加入表面活性剂使碳纳米管分散更加均匀.用丝网印刷技术制作阴极,并用机械刀刻的办法制作阴、栅两极之间的沟槽,经烧结后分析阴极膜的电阻率和粘附性随阴极材料组分和制作工艺的变化关系,确定较为合适的升温曲线及丝网目数,阴极碳纳米管的均匀性、导电性的提高改善了发射均匀性.该阴极开启场为2.5 V/μm,在电场强度为3.3 V/μm下,阳极电流为5.6 μA,场发射电流稳定,波动小于5%.     

Behavior of H2O molecule in carbon nanotube/boron nitride nanotube heterostructure

We perform total-energy electronic-structure calculations of a water molecule inside a (7, 7) carbon nanotube/boron nitride nanotube (CNT/BNNT) heterojunction. The van der Waals interaction is also considered in this study. We find that the equilibrium distance between the water molecule and the wall of the CNT (BNNT) is ≈ 3.3 Å, and the encapsulation energy is 0.22 eV (0.25 eV). The energy profile along the tube axis exhibits a dramatic change in the vicinity of the heterojunction. A speed change of water flow is expected to occur near the heterojunction. Such information would provide valuable insight in nanostructure design for nanofluidics.     

基于铟锡氧化物/Ti复合电极的高亮度碳纳米管场致发射冷阴极

通过制作亲碳性铟锡氧化物(ITO)/Ti复合电极,改善移植型碳纳米管(CNT)冷阴极的导电电极与CNT膜层之间附着性能,从而消除CNT与电极间的界面势垒和非欧姆接触对CNT阴极场发射均匀性和稳定性的影响.采用磁控溅射技术和丝网印刷工艺制作了ITO/Ti基CNT阴极.用X射线衍射仪和场致发射扫描电子显微镜表征CNT阴极结构,结果显示热处理后的ITO/Ti基CNT阴极中可能有TiC相生成,从而使得导电电极与CNT形成有中间物的强作用体系.该体系降低甚至消除电极与CNT之间的界面势垒,增加了CNT与电极间形成欧姆接触的概率.用四探针技术分析电阻率,结果表明ITO/Ti复合电极具有电阻并联效果,CNT阴极导电性能提高.场致发射特性测试表明ITO/Ti基CNT阴极的场致发射电流达到384μA/cm2,较普通ITO基CNT阴极的场致发射电流有显著提高,能够激发测试阳极发出均匀、稳定的高亮度荧光.制作ITO/Ti复合电极是实现场致发射稳定、均匀的低功耗CNT阴极的有效途径.     

Imaging characterization of carbon nanotube tips modified using a focused ion beam

A carbon nanotube (CNT) tip, which assembled on the sharp end of a Si tip by dielectrophoresis, was structurally modified using focused ion beam (FIB). We described the imaging characterization of the FIB-modified CNT tip in noncontact AFM mode in terms of wear, deep trench accessibility, and imaging resolution. Compared to a conventional Si tip, the FIB-modified CNT tip was superior, especially for prolonged scanning over 10 h. We conclude that modified CNT tips have the potential to obtain high-quality images of nanoscale structures.     

Preparation of vertically aligned carbon nanotube arrays grown onto carbon fiber fabric and evaluating its wettability on effect of composite

Vertically aligned carbon nanotube (CNT) arrays have been grown onto the carbon fiber fabric using a catalytic chemical vapor deposition (CCVD) method. The as-synthesized CNT arrays are about 20 μm in height, and the nanotube has a mean inner and outer diameter of 2.6 nm, 5.5 nm, respectively. The CNT-grafted carbon fabric shows a hydrophobic property with a contact angle over 145°, and the single CNT-grafted carbon fiber shows a sharp increase of dynamic contact angle in de-ionized water from original 71.70° to about 103°, but a little increase does in diiodomethane or E-51 epoxy resin. However, the total surface energy of carbon nanotube-grafted carbon fiber is almost as same as that of as-received carbon fiber. After CNTs growth, single fiber tensile tests indicated a slight tensile strength degradation within 10% for all different lengths of fibers, while the fiber modulus has not been significantly damaged. Compared with the as-received carbon fibers, a nearly 110% increase of interfacial shear strength (IFSS) from 65 to 135 MPa has been identified by single fiber pull-out tests for the micro-droplet composite, which is reinforced by as-received carbon fiber or CNT-grafted carbon fiber.     

接触电阻对碳纳米管场发射的影响

基于改进的悬浮球模型,计算了碳纳米管和衬底间的接触电阻存在时碳纳米管顶端的局域电场, 并结合Fowler-Nordheim (F-N)场发射规律研究了接触电阻对碳纳米管场发射的影响.研究表明,接触电阻的存在,在高电场区域接触电阻抑制了碳纳米管的电子场发射,导致在高电场区域出现电流饱和及FN直线偏折现象.其原因可归结为接触电阻使得在碳纳米管顶端的局域电场相对于没有接触电阻时相对地减少. 关键词： 碳纳米管 场发射 接触电阻 电流饱和     

Longitudinal vibration and stability analysis of carbon nanotubes conveying viscous fluid

Nowadays, carbon nanotubes (CNT) play an important role in practical applications in fluidic devices. To this end, researchers have studied various aspects of vibration analysis of a behavior of CNT conveying fluid. In this paper, based on nonlocal elasticity theory, single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) is simulated. To investigate and analyze the effect of internal fluid flow on the longitudinal vibration and stability of SWCNT, the equation of motion for longitudinal vibration is obtained by using Navier-Stokes equations. In the governing equation of motion, the interaction of fluid-structure, dynamic and fluid flow velocity along the axial coordinate of the nanotube and the nano-scale effect of the structure are considered. To solve the nonlocal longitudinal vibration equation, the approximate Galerkin method is employed and appropriate simply supported boundary conditions are applied. The results show that the axial vibrations of the nanotubesstrongly depend on the small-size effect. In addition, the fluid flowing in nanotube causes a decrease in the natural frequency of the system. It is obvious that the system natural frequencies reach zero at lower critical flow velocities as the wave number increases. Moreover, the critical flow velocity decreases as the nonlocal parameter increases.     

壁流式柴油机颗粒过滤体捕集性能的实验研究

过滤压降和过滤效率是评价过滤体性能的重要指标.实验室搭建了捕集柴油机颗粒的发动机台架.通过台架实验,研究了过滤体结构参数对过滤体性能的影响.研究结果表明;随过滤体长度的增加,过滤压降逐渐减小,初始过滤效率先缓慢增加,后急剧下降;增加过滤体的孔隙率有利于降低过滤体初始压降和压降增长率;孔隙率较低的过滤体具有较高的初始过滤效率,但在颗粒层过滤阶段,孔隙率对过滤效率的影响不明显;颗粒层的沉积结构特性受过滤速度的影响,颗粒层比阻与颗粒层堆积厚度乘积的变化率随过滤速度的变化呈非线性关系变化.     

Structural and morphological dependence of carbon nanotube arrays on catalyst aggregation

Catalyst aggregation affects the growth of carbon nanotube (CNT) arrays in terms of tubular structures, waviness, entanglement, lengths, and growth density etc., which are important issues for application developments. We present a systematic correlation between the aggregation of catalyst on the SiO₂/Si substrate and the structure and morphology of CNT arrays. The thickness of the catalyst film has a direct effect on the areal density of the catalytic particles and then the alignment of the CNT array. Introducing alumina as buffer layer and annealing the catalyst film at low pressure are two effective approaches to downsize the catalyst particles and then the diameter, wall number of the CNTs. Both the size and areal density of the catalyst also change with the CNT growth in accordance with Ostwald ripening process, with the bottom of the CNT array varying from well-aligned to disordered and adhesion between catalyst particles and the substrate getting enhanced. Strategies including tuning the thickness of the catalyst film, changing buffer layer, controlling on the growth time and the system pressure were used to regulate the aggregation of the catalyst. CNT arrays from disordered to well-aligned, from multi-walled to few-walled and further to single-walled were reproducibly synthesized by chemical vapor deposition of acetylene.     

Effects of electromigration on copper atoms in carbon nanotube channels

The effects of electromigration on copper in carbon nanotube (CNT) channels are investigated using molecular dynamics simulations. The study shows that the potential energy of copper and the resistive forces on copper are dependent on the shape of the CNT junction, and the increase in bias voltages magnifies these effects. Bias voltages affect the density of copper in the downstream CNT. The velocity of copper in the downstream CNT is relatively lower than that in the upstream CNT when the biased voltage is high.     

液氦净化系统的过滤及反吹特性研究

作为一种优良的超导与冷却介质,超高纯液氦在工业以及航空航天等领域中的应用相当广泛。金属丝网过滤器具有理想均匀的孔径分布和优异的流体渗透性能,可适用于高洁净度、高安全性的低温液体净化系统。通过搭建液氦过滤与净化系统实验台,研究了过滤精度为0.5μm的不锈钢丝网过滤器对液氦中固体氮颗粒的过滤特性,探讨了压降及过滤效率的变化规律,以及反吹过程中的升温趋势。结果表明,该过滤器能有效实现液氦的净化。     

Enhanced interfacial strength of carbon nanotube/copper nanocomposites via Ni-coating: Molecular-dynamics insights

The molecular bridging between carbon nanotube (CNT) within the meta matrix is hopeful for enhancing nanocomposite's mechanical performance. One of the main problems for nanocomposites is the inadequate bonding between nonstructural reinforcement and meta matrix. Ni-coating on CNT is an effective method to overcome the drawback of the inadequate strength, but the enhancing mechanism has not well interpreted yet. In this paper, the enhancing mechanism will be interpreted from the molecular-dynamics insights. The pullout process of CNT and Ni-coated CNT against copper matrix is investigated. The effects of geometric parameters, including CNT length and diameter, are taken into considerations and discussed. Results show that the interfacial strength is significantly improved after the Ni-coated CNT, which shows a good agreement with the experimental results available in the open literature. Besides, the sliding mechanism of Ni-coated CNTs against copper matrix is much more like a kind of friction sliding and directly related to the embedded zone. However, the pullout force of the CNT without Ni-coating is nearly proportional to its diameter, but independent of embedded length.     

Carbon nanotube synthesis on catalytic metal alloys in methane/air counterflow diffusion flames

Various morphologies of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) are grown catalytically on metal-alloy probes in counterflow diffusion flames using methane as fuel. Carbon nanotube (CNT) properties and morphologies are investigated as functions of local gas-phase temperatures, C-related species concentrations (e.g. C₂H₂, CO), sampling positions, C₂H₂ adding to the fuel, and metal-alloy compositions (i.e., Fe, Fe/Cr, Ni/Cu, Ni/Ti, Ni/Cr, Ni/Cr/Fe). MWNTs grow optimally in non-sooty regions of the flames. C₂H₂ addition is found to promote direct synthesis of vertically well-aligned MWNTs with uniform diameters from Ni/Cr/Fe and Ni/Ti alloys.     

Large variation in Young's modulus of carbon nanotube yarns with different diameters

Twist-spun carbon nanotube (CNT) yarns are composed of numerous CNTs and their bundles with entangled and twisted structures. In this paper, we studied the mechanical properties of CNT yarns. The individual CNT, a component of yarn, is well known to have an extremely high mechanical strength. However, CNT yarns are very flexible and relatively free to transform their shapes, showing the potential for application in the design of wearable devices. Since CNT yarns have two opposing characteristics at the same time, a wide range of Young's modulus can be achieved by simply changing the geometrical structure while using the same fabrication process. We also suggest that CNT yarns can be utilized as the base material for several applications that require different stresses in a structure, such as bioimplants or foldable devices.     

电场诱导碳纳米管阵列准直生长的研究

在传统的热化学气相沉积(CVD)的基础上,引入针尖电场,开展了电场对碳纳米管阵列准直性改善的研究。利用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)和Raman光谱两种表征手段,研究了加电场与不加电场两种情况下得到的碳纳米管(CNT)阵列的准直性,证明了电场对碳纳米管阵列准直生长的有效性。文章还对电场诱导碳纳米管阵列准直生长的机理进行了初步的探讨,认为电场使碳纳米管极化是CNT阵列准直生长的主要原因。     

Polarization behaviors of twisted carbon nanotube fibers

Polarization behaviors of carbon nanotube (CNT) fibers with different twisting were reported. Scanning electron microscope and polarized Raman spectroscopy were used to investigate the prepared samples. Results indicate that surface twisting angle affects greatly the polarization angle and I_///I_⊥ ratio of twisted CNT fibers. Raman depth profile measurements imply that the twisted fibers consist of non‐uniform CNT alignments. A simplified two‐CNT‐alignment geometric model was proposed to illuminate the experimental observations. The results suggest that polarized Raman depth profile measurement would be a very useful approach for determining the distribution of CNT alignments in CNT fibers. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Metallization of the semiconducting carbon nanotube by encapsulated bromine molecules

We use ab initio density-functional calculations to investigate the electronic structure of the bromine-adsorbed carbon nanotubes. When a Br₂ molecule is inside the (10,0) carbon nanotube, a trace of electron charge transfers from the nanotube to the Br₂ adsorbate, resulting in an increased Br–Br bond length. When the supercell contains two Br₂ molecules, total energy calculations reveal the formation of a linear chain of bromine atoms inside the carbon nanotube. Electron transfer from the nanotube to the atomic chains of the bromine adsorbates is much enhanced even in large-diameter nanotubes. We suggest that an exposure of the tip-opened carbon nanotube samples to a modest Br₂ partial pressure could result in a strong hole-doping of the nanotube, which makes the semiconducting nanotubes nearly metallic.