Multi-walled carbon nanotubes added to Na2CO3/MgO composites for thermal energy storage

Na2CO3/MgO composites with added multi-walled carbon nanotubes （MWCNTs） were prepared and tested as phase change materials （PCMs） for thermal energy storage. Na2CO3/MgO composite PCMs were prepared and their chemical compatibility and thermal stability were studied. MWCNTs introduced with Na2CO3/MgO composite PCMs were also investigated and scanning electron microscopy （SEM） characterization was used to demonstrate the uniform dispersion of MWCNTs in Na2CO3/MgO composite PCMs. The composites with added MWCNTs still display good thermal stability with mass losses lower than 5%. Introducing MWCNTs into composite Na2CO3/MgO PCMs by material formation/calcination signifi.cantly enhances the thermal conductivity of the composite PCMs. The thermal conductivity of the composite PCMs was found to increase with an increase in the weight fraction of the added MWCNTs and an increase in the testing temperature. This study may present a promising way to prepare high temperature phase change materials with superior properties such as improved thermal stability.     

CARBON NANOTUBES VIA METHANE DECOMPOSITION ON AN ALUMINA SUPPORTED COBALT AEROGEL CATALYST

An alumina-supported cobalt aerogel catalyst prepared from a sol-gel and a supercritical drying method was used in the catalytic decomposition of methane.The physical-chemical properties of the catalyst were characterized and its activity for methane decomposition was investigated.The effects of calcination and reaction temperatures on the activity of the catalyst and the morphology of the carbon nanotubes produced were discussed.A COAl2O4 spinel structure formed in the calcined catalyst.The quantity of the nanotubes produced in the reaction increases with the amount of cobalt in the reduced catalyst.A higher reaction temperature leads to a higher reaction rate,though faster deactivation of the catalyst occurs with the change.The carbon nanotubes grown on the catalyst have smooth walls and uniform diameter distribution.     

FLEXURAL WAVE DISPERSION IN MULTI-WALLED CARBON NANOTUBES CONVEYING FLUIDS

Motivated by the great potential of carbon nanotubes for developing nanofluidic devices, this paper presents a nonlocal elastic, Timoshenko multi-beam model with the second order of strain gradient taken into consideration and derives the corresponding dispersion relation of flexural wave in multi-walled carbon nanotubes conveying fuids. The study shows that the moving flow reduces the phase velocity of flexural wave of the lowest branch in carbon nanotubes. The phase velocity of flexural wave of the lowest branch decreases with an increase of flow velocity. However, the effects of flow velocity on the other branches of the wave dispersion are not obvious. The effect of microstructure characterized by nonlocal elasticity on the dispersion of flexural wave becomes more and more remarkable with an increase in wave number.     

Stability and thermal conductivity of water-based carbon nanotube nanofluids

Water-based nanofluids were prepared with multi walled carbon nanotubes(MWCNTs) of different lengths in concentrations of 0.1,0.25 and 0.5 vol%.To improve their dispersibility,pristine MWCNTs were functionalized and cut into small lengths by reflux in an oxidizing mixture of 3:1 sulfuric and nitric acids.The initial length of the carbon nanotubes(CNTs;10-15 μm) was reduced to 203,171 and 134 nm after1,2 and 4h of reflux,respectively.Surface modification and the reduced length of the CNTs,improved the stability of the nanofluids with no significant sedimentation observed after 80 days.Furthermore,the thermal conductivities of nanofluids prepared using refluxed CNTs,were higher than that of the pristine CNTs.The thermal conductivity also increased with the nanofluid temperature.The nanofluid prepared with 1 h refluxed CNTs had the highest thermal conductivity.The enhanced thermal conductivity and stability of the nanofluids was attributed to the decreased length of CNTs.     

Performance of supersonic model combustors with staged injections of supercritical aviation kerosene

Supersonic model combustors using two-stage injections of supercritical kerosene were experimentally investigated in both Mach 2.5 and 3.0 model combustors with stagnation temperatures of approximately 1,750 K. Supercritical kerosene of approximately 760 K was prepared and injected in the overall equivalence ratio range of 0.5-1.46. Two pairs of integrated injector/flameholder cavity modules in tandem were used to facilitate fuel-air mixing and stable combustion. For single-stage fuel injection at an upstream location, it was found that the boundary layer separation could propagate into the isolator with increasing fuel equivalence ratio due to excessive local heat release, which in turns changed the entry airflow conditions. Moving the fuel injection to a further downstream location could alleviate the problem, while it would result in a decrease in combustion efficiency due to shorter fuel residence time. With two-stage fuel injections the overall combustor performance was shown to be improved and kerosene injections at fuel rich conditions could be reached without the upstream propagation of the boundary layer separation into the isolator. Furthermore, effects of the entry Mach number and pilot hydrogen on combustion performance were also studied.     

Axisymmetric compressive buckling of multi-walled carbon nanotubes under different boundary conditions

The paper studies the axisymmetric compressive buckling behavior of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) under different boundary conditions based on continuum mechanics model. A buckling condition is derived for determining the critical buckling load and associated buckling mode of MWNTs, and numerical results are worked out for MWNTs with different aspect ratios under fixed and simply supported boundary conditions. It is shown that the critical buckling load of MWNTs is insensitive to boundary conditions, except for nanotubes with smaller radii and very small aspect ratio. The associated buckling modes for different layers of MWNTs are in-phase, and the buckling displacement ratios for different layers are independent of the boundary conditions and the length of MWNTs. Moreover, for simply supported boundary conditions, the critical buckling load is compared with the corresponding one for axial compressive buckling, which indicates that the critical buckling load for axial compressive buckling can be well approximated by the corresponding one for axisymmetric compressive buckling. In particular, for axial compressive buckling of double-walled carbon nanotubes, an analytical expression is given for approximating the critical buckling load. The present investigation may be of some help in further understanding the mechanical properties of MWNTs.     

Dynamic torsional buckling of multi-walled carbon nanotubes embedded in an elastic medium

In this paper the dynamic torsional buckling of multi-walled carbon nanotubes （MWNTs） embedded in an elastic medium is studied by using a continuum mechanics model. By introducing initial imperfections for MWNTs and applying the preferred mode analytical method, a buckling condition is derived for the buckling load and associated buckling mode. In particular, explicit expressions are obtained for embedded double-walled carbon nanotubes （DWNTs）. Numerical results show that, for both the DWNTs and embedded DWNTs, the buckling form shifts from the lower buckling mode to the higher buckling mode with increasing the buckling load, but the buckling mode is invari- able for a certain domain of the buckling load. It is also indicated that, the surrounding elastic medium generally has effect on the lower buckling mode of DWNTs only when compared with the corresponding one for individual DWNTs.     

VIBRATION OF FLUID-FILLED MULTI-WALLED CARBON NANOTUBES SEEN VIA NONLOCAL ELASTICITY THEORY

Vibration characteristics of fluid-filled multi-walled carbon nanotubes axe studied by using nonlocal elastic Fliigge shell model. Vibration governing equations of an N-layer carbon nanotube are formulated by considering the scale effect. In the numerical simulations, the effects of different theories, small-scale, variation of wavenumber, the innermost radius and length of double- walled and triple-walled carbon nanotubes are considered. Vibrational frequencies decrease with an increase of scale coefficient, the innermost radius, length of nanotube and effects of wall number are negligible. The results show that the cut-off frequencies can be influenced by the wall number of nanotubes.     

Variational principles for buckling and vibration of MWCNTs modeled by strain gradient theory

Variational principles for the buckling and vibration of multi-walled carbon nanotubes （MWCNTs） are established with the aid of the semi-inverse method. They are used to derive the natural and geometric boundary conditions coupled by small scale parameters. Hamilton＇s principle and Rayleigh＇s quotient for the buckling and vibration of the MWCNTs are given. The Rayleigh-Ritz method is used to study the buckling and vibration of the single-walled carbon nanotubes （SWCNTs） and double-walled carbon nanotubes （DWCNTs） with three typical boundary conditions. The numerical results reveal that the small scale parameter, aspect ratio, and boundary conditions have a profound effect on the buckling and vibration of the SWCNTs and DWCNTs.     

Synthesis of submicron-sized composite particles with unique morphology by emulsifier-free seeded emulsion copolymerization

Polystyrene （PSt） microspheres with diameter of 375 nm to be used as the seeds for seeded emulsion polymerization were prepared via emulsion polymerization using potassium persulfate （KPS） as initiator in ethanol-water mixed solvents. Emulsifier-free seeded emulsion copolymerization of styrene （St） with acrylonitrile （AN） was carried out in the presence of poly（ethylene glycol） monomethoxymonomethacrylate （PEGm） macromonomer as reactive stabilizer and 2,2＇-azobisisobutyronitrile （AIBN） as initiator to obtain submicron-sized PEGm graft poly（styrene-coacrylonitrile） （PEGm-g-PSAN） composite particles with unique morphology. Scanning electron microscopy （SEM） indicated that St and AN together contributed to forming the unusual morphology. The concentration of St and AN, total monomer concentration, initiator type and the monomer adding method remarkably affected the morphology of the composite polymer particles.     

Preparation of bunched CeO2 and study on microwave absorbing properties with MWCNTs binary composite

A novel bunched cerium oxide (CeO₂) was prepared and its binary composite material with multi-walled carbon nanotubes presented an excellent microwave absorbing properties. The morphology, structure, and absorbing properties of the composite material were investigated. It was found that the minimum reflection loss (RL) of the composite material at 15.79 GHz was −45.7 dB when the thickness was 5.5 mm. It was worth noting that when the composite material was in the thickness range of 5.0–7.5 mm and the frequency was 11.36–17.77 GHz, the electromagnetic wave RL was < −30 dB, which illustrated that the composite material had a good absorbing effect over a wide thickness range. The results of the study contributed to the design and preparation of efficient microwave absorbing materials (MAM) with rare earth oxide composites and their applications, which demonstrated the importance of new composites with special structures in the field of MAM.     

Analytical and numerical techniques to predict carbon nanotubes properties

In this paper, two different approaches for modeling the behaviour of carbon nanotubes are presented. The first method models carbon nanotubes as an inhomogeneous cylindrical network shell using the asymptotic homogenization method. Explicit formulae are derived representing Young’s and shear moduli of single-walled nanotubes in terms of pertinent material and geometric parameters. As an example, assuming certain values for these parameters, the Young’s modulus was found to be 1.71 TPa, while the shear modulus was 0.32 TPa. The second method is based on finite element models. The inter-atomic interactions due to covalent and non-covalent bonds are replaced by beam and spring elements, respectively, in the structural model. Correlations between classical molecular mechanics and structural mechanics are used to effectively model the physics governing the nanotubes. Finite element models are developed for single-, double- and multi-walled carbon nanotubes. The deformations from the finite element simulations are subsequently used to predict the elastic and shear moduli of the nanotubes. The variation of mechanical properties with tube diameter is investigated for both zig-zag and armchair configurations. Furthermore, the dependence of mechanical properties on the number of nanotubules in multi-walled structures is also examined. Based on the finite element model, the value for the elastic modulus varied from 0.9 to 1.05 TPa for single and 1.32 to 1.58 TPa for double/multi-walled nanotubes. The shear modulus was found to vary from 0.14 to 0.47 TPa for single-walled nanotubes and 0.37 to 0.62 for double/multi-walled nanotubes.     

Buckling of embedded multi-walled carbon nanotubes under combined torsion and axial loading

This paper describes an investigation into elastic buckling of an embedded multi-walled carbon nanotube under combined torsion and axial loading, which takes account of the radial constraint from the surrounding elastic medium and van der Waals force between two adjacent tube walls. Depending on the ratio of radius to thickness, the multi-walled carbon nanotubes discussed here are classified as thin, thick, and nearly solid. Critical buckling load with the corresponding mode is obtained for multi-walled carbon nanotubes under combined torsion and axial loading, with various values of the radius to thickness ratio and surrounded with different elastic media. The study indicates that the buckling mode (m, n) of an embedded multi-walled carbon nanotube under combined torsion and axial loading is unique and it is different from that with axial compression only. New features for the buckling of an embedded multi-walled carbon nanotube under combined torsion and axial loading and the meaningful numerical results are useful in the design of nanodrive device, nanotorsional oscillator and rotational actuators, where multi-walled carbon nanotubes act as basic elements.     

Lithium-storage properties of SiO2 nanotubes@C using carbon nanotubes as templates

Silica-based anode material is the most concerned material at present, which has the advantages of good cycle stability, high theoretical specific capacity and abundant reserves. However, silica suffers from inherent low conductivity, severe volume expansion effect and low initial coulombic efficiency, which limits its application in lithium-ion batteries. Nanotubes structure can mitigate the volume expansion during lithiation/delithiation. In this article, silica nanotubes (SNTs) were prepared using carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as a template, and then the uniform carbon layer was coated on their surface by carbonization of citric acid. The hollow structure of nanotubes provides more sites for the insertion of Li⁺ during lithiation and additional channels for Li⁺ migration in the cycles, which improves the electrochemical performance. Conductivity can be enhanced by coating carbon layer. The specific capacity of the composite material is about 650 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.1 A g⁻¹ after 100 cycles. With a specific capacity of 400 mAh g⁻¹ even at 1 A g⁻¹ after 100 cycles. The silica-based material is a competitive anode material for lithium-ion batteries.     

Impact Behaviour of GLAREs with MWCNT Modified Epoxy Resins

In this study, GLAREs (Glass Reinforced Aluminum Laminates) with 3/2 configuration were fabricated in-house with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) modified epoxy resins. Uniform dispersion of MWCNTs in epoxy resin was achieved via a two-step dispersion method with concentration up to 2.0 wt%. The influence of MWCNTs on the flexural property and the impact performance of GLAREs was investigated through the three-point bending and drop weight Dynatup impact testings, respectively. The incorporation of MWCNTs into epoxy evidently improved the flexural strength and modulus. In comparison with pure epoxy bonded GLARE, the modified GLAREs generally showed improvement of impact resistance. The improvement was more obvious at low concentration of MWCNT due to better dispersion of nanotubes in the resin and reasonable wettability of glass fibres and aluminium to the modified resin. Diversified failure mechanisms including plastic deformation and rupture of metal layers, breakage of fibres and matrix, delamination between composite and metal layers, and delamination between composite plies were observed. In addition, debonding, pull-out, and bridging effects of carbon nanotubes were observed, which proved the contribution of MWCNTs to the improved impact resistance of the modified GLAREs.     

Carbon nanotubes coated with platinum nanoparticles as anode of biofuel cell

A hybrid system of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) coated with poly (amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimer-encapsulated platinum nanoparticles (Pt-DENs) and glucose oxidase (GOx) was prepared through the layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly approach and then used as anode in enzyme-based biofuel cells (BFCs). The assembly process was monitored by ζ-potential measurement, and the as-resulted Pt-DENs/CNTs nanocomposites were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The performance of electrodes modified by Pt-DENs/CNTs was also investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). We found that the Pt-DENs/CNTs could enhance the electron transfer between the redox centers in enzyme and the electrode surfaces. Furthermore, by employing the Pt-DENs/CNTs modified electrodes as anode, the enzyme-based BFCs operated in a solution containing glucose generated an open-circuit voltage of approximately 640.0 mV and a maximum current density of about 90.0 μA/cm², suggesting that Pt-DENs/CNTs may serve as an alternative anode to previously used noble metals in BFC applications.     

MWCNTs复合物纳米流体的摩擦学性能

将油性剂油酸(OA)填充进多壁碳纳米管(MWCNTs)的空腔内制备复合物,再以复合物为添加剂制备一种纳米流体,考察了复合物的质量分数、MWCNTs的酸处理时间以及摩擦测试条件等对纳米流体摩擦学性能的影响,并分析了复合物的润滑机理. 结果表明:油酸被成功填充到经酸处理的MWCNTs管内,填充率约20%;摩擦过程中,复合物制备的纳米流体的摩擦系数有不断减小趋势,其减摩效果甚至优于同等含量的油酸乳化液;当复合物的质量分数为0.1%左右时,纳米流体可获得最佳的减摩、抗磨效果;随着酸化处理时间的增加,复合物制备的纳米流体的减摩、抗磨性能会有所提高. 摩擦过程中,复合物可释放出油酸并形成润滑膜,MWCNTs则能够在油酸形成的润滑膜上发挥“微轴承”的作用,从而使复合物获得更加优良的减摩、抗磨效果.      

Thermal effects on interfacial stress transfer characteristics of carbon nanotubes/polymer composites

The paper presents an analytical method to investigate thermal effects on interfacial stress transfer characteristics of single/multi-walled carbon nanotubes/polymer composites system under thermal loading by means of thermoelastic theory and conventional fiber pullout models. In example calculations, the mechanical properties and the thermal expansion coefficients of carbon nanotubes and polymer matrix are, respectively, treated as the functions of temperature change. Numerical examples show that the interfacial shear stress transfer behavior can be described and affected by several parameters such as the temperature field, volume fraction of CNT, and numbers of wall layer and the outermost radius of carbon nanotubes. From the results carried out it is found that mismatch of thermal expansion coefficients between the carbon nanotubes and polymer matrix may be more important in governing interfacial stress transfer characteristics of carbon nanotubes/polymer composite system.     

Effect of small size on dispersion characteristics of wave in carbon nanotubes

Effect of small size on dispersion characteristics of waves in multi-walled carbon nanotubes is investigated using an elastic shell model. Dynamic governing equations of the carbon nanotube are formulated on the basis of nonlocal elastic theory. The relationship between wavenumber and frequency of wave propagation is obtained from the solution of the eigenvalue equations. The numerical results show that the dispersion characteristics of wave in the multi-walled carbon nanotube are affected by the small size. Effect of small size is not obvious for the smaller wavenumber, and it will arise and increase gradually with the increase of the wavenumber. Effect of the small size will decrease as the inner radius of carbon nanotubes increases. In addition, the explicit expressions of the cut-off frequencies are derived. The results show that the cut-off frequencies cannot be influenced by the small size of carbon nanotubes.