The 1/f noise in multiwalled carbon nanotubes

The $1/f$ noise in multiwalled carbon nanotubes bundles has been investigated between the frequency range of 0.1 to 30 Hz. At room temperature the noise spectrum is standard 1/f, and its level is proportional to the square of the bias voltage. With decreasing temperature the noise level also decreases. At 4.2 K the noise level follows a non-monotonic dependence against the bias voltage, showing a peak at a certain bias voltage, meanwhile its frequency dependence also deviates from the 1/f trend. This anomalous behaviour is discussed within the picture of environmental quantum fluctuation of charge transport in the samples.     

Preparation of poly(?-caprolactone)-based polyurethane nanofibers containing silver nanoparticles

In this study, poly(?-caprolactone)-based polyurethane (PCL-PU) nanofibers containing Ag nanoparticles for use in antimicrobial nanofilter applications were prepared by electrospinning 8 wt% PCL-PU solutions containing different amounts of AgNO₃ in a mixed solvent consisting of DMF/THF (7/3 w/w). The average diameter of the pure PCL-PU nanofibers was 560 nm and decreased with increasing concentration of AgNO₃. The PCL-PU nanofiber mats electrospun with AgNO₃ exhibited higher tensile strength, tensile modulus, and lower elongation than the pure PCL-PU nanofiber mats. Small Ag nanoparticles were produced by the reduction of Ag⁺ ions in the PCL-PU solutions. The average size and number of the Ag nanoparticles in the PCL-PU nanofibers were considerably increased after being annealed at 100 °C for 24 h. They were all sphere-shaped and evenly distributed in the PCL-PU nanofibers, indicating that the PCL-PU chains stabilized the Ag nanoparticles well.     

Wettability modification of electrospun poly(?-caprolactone) fibers by femtosecond laser irradiation in different gas atmospheres

The effect of femtosecond laser irradiation in air and in O₂ and CF₄ gas flows on the wettability of electrospun poly(?-caprolactone) fiber tissue scaffolds was studied. Laser power, focus spot size, raster scan spacing and gas atmosphere were varied in experiments. SEM imaging showed the average fiber diameter and surface porosity sizes were both altered by ablation. The micro-scale surface roughness measured by scanning laser profilometry was found to have a non-monotonic relationship to the surface wettability measured by the contact angle of sessile water droplets. In contrast, surface water contact angle continuously decreased with increased oxygen atomic percentage and oxygen-containing group fraction as measured by XPS. Further, the oxygen content was larger for more extensively ablated fiber surfaces, regardless of whether the increased ablation was caused by high laser power, smaller scanning space or smaller defocusing distance. Of the three gas atmospheres, O₂ gas flow was the most favorable environment for increasing surface oxidization, resulting in the largest water contact angle decrease for given laser power. For CF₄ gas flow, the least oxidization occurred, and the magnitude of water contact angle decrease was smallest for treatment at a given laser power.     

Improved mechanical properties of hydroxyapatite/poly(?-caprolactone) scaffolds by surface modification of hydroxyapatite

Scaffolds comprising hydroxyapatite (HAP) or poly(?-caprolactone)-grafted hydroxyapatite (g-HAP) and poly(?-caprolactone) (PCL) were prepared using the thermally induced phase separation/salt leaching technique. The g-HAP nanoparticles were evaluated by Fourier Transformation Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). Power X-ray Diffraction (XRD) patterns confirmed the successful grafting on the surface of HAP. The effects on mechanical strength, porosity and thermal property of scaffolds by the introduction of nanoparticles were extensively investigated. The compressive modulus of the scaffold was greatly improved by the addition of g-HAP nanoparticles. Especially the compressive modulus of the g-HAP/PCL scaffold containing 20 wt% of g-HAP was 59.4% higher than that of the corresponding HAP/PCL scaffold.     

Ultrasound-promoted direct functionalization of multi-walled carbon nanotubes in water via Diels-Alder “click chemistry”

A facile and environmentally friendly strategy for grafting polymers onto the surface of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was demonstrated by Diels-Alder “click chemistry”. Firstly, the copolymers of poly(styrene-alt-maleic anhydride) (PSM) were prepared by the reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization and subsequently functionalized with furfuryl amine to introduce anchoring groups. The copolymers were then grafted on CNTs via the Diels-Alder reaction in water through a conventional heating-stirring route and ultrasound-assisted method. The obtained nanocomposite materials were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The results indicated that the reaction rate under ultrasound irradiation was accelerated about 12 times than the one under the conventional heating-stirring condition without losing the grafting efficiency. The direct functionalization of CNTs formed a stably dispersed solution in water, promising a green and effective method for industrial process.     

Cisplatin filled multiwalled carbon nanotubes – a novel molecularhybrid of anticancer drug container

Here, a study on Cisplatin (cis-Diammineplatinum(II) dichloride – CDDP) insertion within multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) via capillary forces is presented. The employment of MWCNTs as anticancer drug nano-vectors is suggested by the harmful side effects occurring after the chemotherapeutic treatment due to the lack of selectivity of the chemotherapeutic agents in general. Cisplatin is widely used as a powerful cell-killer but without any cell-specificity. Via high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) CDDP clusters inserted into MWCNTs were detected. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) revealed the signal of CDDP constitutive elements. Raman Spectroscopy and InfraRed analysis excluded the presence of the drug on the tubes outer shell. Thermogravimetric (TGA) study was exploited to evaluate the purity of the material and to calculate the amount of CDDP incorporated into the tubes. A time dependent release of CDDP indicated that the outflow took place in the range between 12 and 48 h. After this time ~95% of the drug previously embedded was discharged.     

Laser-induced decoration of carbon nanotubes with metal nanoparticles

Hybrid nanomaterials consisting of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) decorated with noble metal nanoparticles were produced by irradiating aqueous mixed solutions of the separate components with nanosecond lasers pulses at 248 nm. Specifically, the decoration with Au and Pd nanoparticles is discussed. No decoration of the MWCNT was observed by simple mixing with nanoparticle solutions. Hence, a photo-thermal mechanism is suggested, whereby the laser-heating of the nanoparticles induces melting, boiling and subdivision into smaller clusters and atoms, which then attach to the MWCNT.     

Modulating the diameter of carbon nanotubes in array form via floating catalyst chemical vapor deposition

Based on the analysis of catalyst particle formation and carbon nanotube (CNT) array growth process in floating catalyst chemical vapor deposition (CVD), delicately controlled gaseous carbon sources and catalyst precursors were introduced into the reactor for the controllable growth of CNT array. The low feeding rate of ferrocene was realized through low-temperature sublimation. With less ferrocene introduced into the reactor, the collision among the in situ formed iron atoms decreased, which led to the formation of smaller catalyst particles. The mean diameter of the CNT array, grown at 800^oC, decreased from 41 to 31 nm when the ferrocene-sublimed temperature reduced from 80 to 60^oC. Furthermore, low growth temperature was adopted in synthesis, through the modulation of the CNT diameter, by controlling the sintering of catalyst particles and the collision frequency. When the growth temperature was 600^oC, the as-grown CNTs in the array were with a mean diameter of 10.2 nm. If propylene was used as carbon source, the diameter can be modulated in similar trends. The diameter of CNT can be modulated by the parameter of the operation using the same substrate and catalyst precursor without other equipment or previous treatment. Those results provide the possibility for delicately controllable synthesis of CNT array via simple floating catalyst CVD.     

Phase transitions in smectogenic liquid crystal 4-butoxybenzylidene-4′-butylaniline (BBBA) doped by multiwalled carbon nanotubes

The phase transitions in smectogenic liquid crystal BBBA (4-butoxybenzylidene-4′-butylaniline) doped by multi-walled carbon nanotubes (NTs) were studied by methods of optical transmission, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), measurement of electrical conductivity and analysis of microscopic images. The concentration of NTs was varied within 0–1% wt. Non-monotonous (extremal) changes in temperature, enthalpies and half-width of the DSC peaks of transitions between different phases (smectics, nematic, isotropic) were observed for NT concentrations between 0.05 and 0.1% wt. A noticeable increase of electrical conductivity σ in the same concentration interval evidenced the presence of percolation transition and formation of conductive NT networks. The detailed analysis of σ behavior in the whole concentration interval 0–1% wt revealed the presence of a fuzzy type percolation with multiple thresholds in the studied BBBA?+?NT suspensions. The percolation behavior was strongly dependent on the temperature, and a noticeable step-like drop of σ in the vicinity of isotropic-nematic transition was observed after the multiple heating–cooling cycles.     

A new method for the analysis of transmission property in carbon nanotubes using Green’s function

A new method for the analysis of electron transmission property in single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) using Green’s function is presented in this paper for the first time. Using the proposed method, a new relation for the transmission function through a deformed SWCNT is obtained, which depends on the energy variations and the coupling matrices related to the mechanical deformations applied to the structure of CNT. The obtained new relation is explained by the presented results in the literature.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Terpolymers of poly(L-lactide-glycolide-ε-caprolactone)

Random terpolymers of poly(L-lactide-glycolide-ε-caprolactone) (PLLGC) was prepared by ring-opening polymerization of L-lactide, glycolide and ε-caprolactone monomers initiated with stannous octanoate. Fourier transform infrared spectra, nuclear magnetic resonance and gel permeation chromatography were employed to characterize the obtained PLLGC terpolymers. The effects of polymerization temperature, reaction time, the amount of initiator and the polymerization pressure on the weight average molecular mass and polydispersity index of the PLLGC were investigated. In addition, the water contact angle of the PLLGC was also tested. The characterization of chemical structure showed that the PLLGC was successfully synthesized. For instance, a PLLGC terpolymer with a weight average molecular mass of about 12.435?×?10⁴?Da and a polydispersity index of 1.28 was obtained when the polymerization was conducted with a molar ratio of monomer to initiator ([M]/[I]) of 2000, polymerization temperature of 140?°C, polymerization pressure of 5.0?Pa and reaction time of 24?h. The random incorporation of ε-CL monomer units decreased the wettability of the PLGA copolymers.     

Existence of eigenvalues embedded in the spectral bands of Schrödinger operators on carbon nanotubes with impurities

Letters in Mathematical Physics - It is known in Korotyaev and Lobanov (Ann Henri Poincaré 8:1151–1176, 2007) and Parchment (Commun Math Phys 275:805–826, 2007) that spectra of...     

Growth of aligned single-walled carbon nanotubes under ac electric fields through floating catalyst chemical vapour deposition

Through floating catalyst chemical vapour deposition(CVD) method,well-aligned isolated single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and their bundles were deposited on the metal electrodes patterned on the SiO₂/Si surface under ac electric fields at relatively low temperature(280℃). It was indicated that SWCNTs were effectively aligned under ac electric fields after they had just grown in the furnace.The time for a SWCNT to be aligned in the electric field and the effect of gas flow were estimated. Polarized Raman scattering was performed to characterize the aligned structure of SWCNTs. This method would be very useful for the controlled fabrication and preparation of SWCNTs in practical applications.     

The use of calcination in exposing the entrapped Fe particles from multi-walled carbon nanotubes grown by chemical vapour deposition

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were synthesized a by chemical vapour deposition method. The effect of calcination at temperatures ranging from 300 to 550°C in exposing the metal nanoparticles within the nanotube bundles was studied. The degree of degradation of the structural integrity of the MWCNTs during the thermal process was studied by Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The thermal behaviour of the as-prepared and calcined samples was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis. Calcination in air, at 400°C for 1 h, was found to be an efficient and simple method to extract metallic impurities from the amorphous carbon shells with minimal damage to the tube walls and lengths. The nanotubes were observed to be damaged at temperatures higher than 450°C.     

Dielectric relaxation spectrum of poly (ε-caprolactone) networks hydrophilized by copolymerization with 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate

The dielectric relaxation spectrum of polycaprolactone (PCL) networks hydrophilized with different amounts of 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA) is investigated. PCL is a semicrystalline polyester with a complex relaxation spectrum that includes the main α relaxation and two secondary modes (β, γ) at lower temperatures. The overlapping of the different relaxational modes was split by using several Havriliak-Negami functions. Crosslinking the material modifies the dynamics of the main relaxation process as reflected by the parameters that characterize the Vogel behavior of the process and the dynamic fragility. The incorporation of HEA units in the network results in a material with microphase separation: two α processes are detected, the one corresponding to the PCL chains and the new one associated to nanometric regions that contain different amount of both comonomers. The incorporation of the HEA units in the system involves the presence of a new β_sw relaxation due to the link of two side chains by water molecules through hydrogen bonding.     

Enhancement of the electrical properties of carbon nanotubes with Ar–N2 plasma treatment

Optical emission spectroscopy and Langmuir probe are used to investigate the low pressure inductively coupled Ar–N₂ plasmas as function of rf power, filling pressure and Ar content in N₂ discharge. It is observed that the active species generation, dissociation fraction and electron temperature significantly depends on discharge parameters and may be used to optimize the plasma reactor. Mixture of SWCNTs and MWCNTs are treated for different treatment time (0–120 min) at optimum discharge conditions. Changes induced in the elemental composition, surface morphology, crystallographic structure, and structural disorder in the plasma irradiated CNTs are analyzed by EDX, FTIR, SEM, XRD and Raman spectroscopy, respectively. Ar–N₂ mixture plasma treatment of CNTs lead to a significant increase in the electrical conductivity, modify the microstructure and induce structural disorder and cause a transition of crystalline phase from well crystalline to an amorphous structure.     

Role of Stone–Wales defects on the functionalization of (8,0) single wall carbon nanotubes by the amine group: Ab initio study

Using first-principle calculations, we have investigated the chemical functionalization of (8,0) zigzag single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) by the amine group on Stone–Wales (SW) defects. The binding of NH₂ with the defective (8,0) nanotube was explored and the preferential grafting sites have been identified. On the other hand, the modifications induced by SW defect and functional groups in the structural and electronic properties of (8,0) SWNT have also been investigated. The role of SW defects in the chemical reactivity of carbon nanotubes was well identified.     

Darcy–Forchheimer 3D flow of carbon nanotubes with homogeneous and heterogeneous reactions

This article deals with Darcy–Forchheimer three dimensional (3D) flow of water-based carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with heterogeneous–homogeneous reactions. A bidirectional nonlinear extendable surface has been employed to create the flow. Flow in porous space is represented by Darcy–Forchheimer expression. Heat transfer mechanism is explored through convective heating. Equal diffusion coefficients are considered for both auto catalyst and reactants. Results for single-wall (SWCNT) and multi-wall (MWCNT) carbon nanotubes have been presented and compared. The diminishment of partial differential framework into nonlinear ordinary differential framework is made through suitable transformations. Optimal homotopy scheme is used for arrangements development of governing flow problem. Optimal homotopic solution expressions for velocities and temperature are studied through plots by considering various estimations of physical variables. Moreover the surface drag coefficients and heat transfer rate are analyzed through plots.