Adsorption of TCDD molecule onto CNTs and BNNTs: Ab initio van der Waals density-functional study

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCCD) is one of the most dangerous compounds that infect the environment and hence its removal is crucial for safety in human life. In this work, we have investigated the interaction of TCDD with boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by using the density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Our first-principles results have been validated by experiment and also other theoretical values for the similar system. The adsorption energies for TCDD molecule on the BNNTs and CNT are calculated. It was found that TCDD adsorption ability of BNNT is slightly stronger than that of CNT and TCDD molecule prefers to be adsorbed on BNNTs with molecular axis parallel to the tube axis. The results obtained indicate that TCDD is weakly bound to the outer surface of all the considered nanotubes and the obtained adsorption energy values and binding distance are typical for the physisorption. We also evaluated the influence of curvature and introduced defects on the TCDD adsorption ability of BNNTs. Furthermore, we have analyzed the electronic structure and charge population for the energetically most favorable complexes and the results indicate that no significant hybridization between the respective orbitals of the two entities was accomplished.     

钛基底的纳米金刚石掺混纳米碳管的场发射特性

在纳米金刚石场发射的基础上, 研究了纳米金刚石掺混纳米碳管的场发射特性。采用电泳沉积法形成了纳米金刚石与纳米碳管的复合涂层, 经热处理后制备出阴极样品, 然后进行微观表征, 再进行场发射特性测试与发光测试。结果表明, 与未掺混的纳米金刚石阴极样品相比, 复合涂层阴极样品的场发射开启电场明显减小, 场发射电流提高, 在较低的电场下阳极表面荧光粉就可以发光, 但发光不均匀, 出现了"边沿发光"的现象。分析了纳米金刚石掺混纳米碳管场发射性能提高的机理, 是由于纳米碳管掺入之后, 涂层的电子输运能力得到增强, 涂层中有效发射体的数目增加。最后, 解释了"边沿发光"现象的成因。     

碳纳米管/TiO_2复合材料的制备及表征研究

采用溶胶-凝胶法和水热合成法,制备出碳纳米管/TiO2(CNTs/TiO2)复合材料。通过X-射线衍射仪(XRD)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM),紫外-可见漫反射光谱(UV-Vis),荧光光谱(LS)检测CNTs/TiO2的晶型及形貌。结果表明:锐钛矿相TiO2纳米颗粒负载在碳纳米管的管壁上,CNTs/TiO2在紫外-可见光波长范围均有较好的吸收性能。在灭菌灯照射下,以甲基橙溶液为降解目标,CNTs/TiO2复合材料对甲基橙溶液的降解有高的光催化活性,180 min内降解率达到85%以上。     

Development and application of carbon nanotubes assisted electromembrane extraction (CNTs/EME) for the determination of buprenorphine as a model of basic drugs from urine samples

In this work carbon nanotubes assisted electromembrane extraction (CNTs/EME) coupled with capillary electrophoresis (CE) and ultraviolet (UV) detection was developed for the determination of buprenorphine as a model of basic drugs from urine samples. Carbon nanotubes reinforced hollow fiber was used in this research. Here the CNTs serve as a sorbent and provide an additional pathway for solute transport. The presence of CNTs in the hollow fiber wall increased the effective surface area and the overall partition coefficient on the membrane; and lead to an enhancement in the analyte transport. For investigating the influence of the presence of CNTs in the SLM on the extraction efficiency, a comparative study was carried out between EME and CNTs/EME methods. Optimization of the variables affecting these methods was carried out in order to achieve the best extraction efficiency. Optimal extractions were accomplished with NPOE as the SLM, with 200 V as the driving force, and with pH 2.0 in the donor and pH 1.0 in the acceptor solutions with the whole assembly agitated at 750 rpm after 25 min and 15 min for EME and CNTs/EME, respectively.     

Assemble-Electrodeposited Ultrathin Conducting Poly(Azure A) at a Carbon Nanotube-Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode, and its Electrocatalytic Properties to the Reduction of Nitrite

A new type of ultrathin conducting polymer/carbon nanotubes (UCP/CNTs) nanomaterials with high catalytic surface area was proposed in this work. The electrode covered with an ultrathin layer of poly(azure A)/carbon nanotubes nanomaterials was fabricated by two steps: firstly, the single-wall carbon nanotubes (SCNTs) modified glassy carbon (GC) electrode was immersed in an azure A solution to assemble a thin azure A monomer film. Secondly, the assembled AA was electropolymerized in a phosphate buffer solution by cyclic voltammetry (CV). The electrocatalytic activity of the obtained ultrathin conducting poly(azure A)/carbon nanotubes (UCPAA/CNTs) nanomaterials was tested using sodium nitrite. The results showed thus prepared electrode exhibited excellent electrocatalytic behavior to the reduction of nitrite and facilitates the detection of nitrite at an applied reduction peak potential of 0.1 V. A linear range from 3.0 μM to 4.5 mM for the detection of sodium nitrite has been observed with fast response (within 3 s) and a detection limit of 1.0 μM based on a signal-to-noise ratio of 3.     

A new cataluminescence gas sensor based on SiO2 nanotubes fabricated using carbon nanotube templates

In the present work, two morphologies of SiO₂ nanomaterials (SiO₂ nanotubes and nanoparticles) have been successfully synthesized in supercritical fluids (SCFs). The cataluminescence (CTL) features of the two SiO₂ nanomaterials to some common harmful gases were compared, and the results showed that SiO₂ nanotubes had better CTL sensing characteristic to some common harmful gases. The SiO₂ nanotubes not only had uniform size and shape with a high specific surface area, but also exhibited superior sensitivity and selectivity to ethyl acetate vapor. Using the SiO₂ nanotubes as sensing material, a CTL sensor for ethyl acetate vapor was developed. The proposed sensor showed high sensitivity and specificity to ethyl acetate at optimal temperature of 293 °C, a wavelength of 425 nm and a flow rate of 345 mL/min. With a detection limit of 0.85 ppm, the linear range of CTL intensity versus concentrations of ethyl acetate vapor was 2.0-2000 ppm. None or only very low levels of interference were observed while the foreign substances such as acetone, acetaldehyde, acetic acid, formaldehyde, ammonia, ethanol, benzene and methanol were passing through the sensor. This method allows rapid determination of gaseous ethyl acetate at workshop.     

Laboratorial diagnosis of paracoccidioidomycosis and new insights for the future of fungal diagnosis

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is the most prevalent mycosis in Latin-America. As for other mycosis, its importance of has been largely underestimated, partially due to the limited geographical distribution of the etiologic fungal agent (Paracoccidioides brasiliensis). However, the advent of AIDS and other immune suppressing conditions is creating an emergent need for improved diagnostic tests envisaging simpler, cheaper, faster and more sensitive and accurate detection of pathogenic fungi, especially those causing systemic and opportunistic diseases. Routine laboratorial diagnosis of PCM disease relies mainly on direct observation of the fungus. However, culture growing is slow and, too often, definite diagnosis can only be obtained at later growing stages. Immunodiagnosis is also widely employed, although usually cumbersome and complex. Enzyme-based immunoassays are more amenable to automation for high-throughput testing, but may lead to cross-reactivity with other fungi. Plus, molecular diagnosis relying on polymerase-chain reaction (PCR) and nucleic-acid hybridization, although still at early stages of application to routine diagnosis of P. brasiliensis, has triggered the development of techniques for its improved specific detection, thus contributing for epidemiological studies as well. In the future, microarrays and newer biosensing technologies, coupled to new bionanotechnological tools, will certainly improve diagnosis of PCM and other mycosis through very specific and sensitive pathogen biomolecular detection.     

刻线镍膜上沉积的碳纳米管场发射特性

利用微波等离子体化学气相沉积(MWPCVD)方法,在刻线的镍膜上沉积碳纳米管膜。通过SEM和拉曼光谱表征,讨论了催化剂厚度、制备温度、反应时间以及甲烷浓度对碳纳米管场发射的影响。结果表明：不同条件下制备的碳纳米管的场发射性能有很大差异,保持氢气的流量(100sccm)不变,当甲烷流量为5sccm、生长时间为5min、催化剂膜厚为150nm、温度为700～800℃时,场发射性能最好,开启场强为1．3V／um,最大发射电流达到6．8mA／cm^3。     

Temperature and carbon source effects on methane–air flame synthesis of CNTs

We have conducted experimental and numerical studies on flame synthesis of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to investigate the effects of three key parameters – selective catalyst, temperature and available carbon sources – on CNT growth. Two different substrates were used to synthesize CNTs: Ni-alloy wire substrates to obtain curved and entangled CNTs and Si-substrates with porous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) nanotemplates to grow well-aligned, self-assembled and size-controllable CNTs, each using two different types of laminar flames, co-flow and counter-flow methane–air diffusion flames. An appropriate temperature range in the synthesis region is essential for CNTs to grow on the substrates. Possible carbon sources for CNT growth were found to be the major species CO and those intermediate species C₂H₂, C₂H₄, C₂H₆, and methyl radical CH₃. The major species H₂, CO₂ and H₂O in the synthesis region are expected to activate the catalyst and help to promote catalyst reaction.