Mechanochromic Fibers with Structural Color

Responsive photonic crystals have been widely developed to realize tunable structural colors by manipulating the flow of light. Among them, mechanochromic photonic crystals attract increasing attention due to the easy operation, high safety and broad applications. Recently, mechanochromic photonic crystal fibers were proposed to satisfy the booming wearable smart textile market. In this Concept, the fundamental mechanism, fabrication, and recent progress on mechanochromic photonic crystals, especially in fiber shape, are summarized to represent a new direction in sensing and displaying.     

Polymer‐Infiltrated Aligned Carbon Nanotube Fibers by in situ Polymerization

Carbon nanotube–polymer composite fibers are obtained by infiltration of a monomer liquid into aligned carbon nanotube aerogel fibers with subsequent in situ polymerization. The monomer, methyl methacrylate (MMA), was infiltrated into the aerogel fibers of multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) at room temperature and subsequently polymerized at 50 °C into poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). Cross‐sections of the PMMA/MWNT composite fibers showed that the PMMA filled the spaces of the nanotube fibers and bound the nanotubes together. PMMA in the composite fibers exhibited local order. The resultant composite fibers with 15 wt.‐% nanotube loading exhibited a 16‐fold and a 49‐fold increase in tensile strength and Young's modulus, respectively, compared to the control PMMA.

     

Mechanochromic Luminescence from Crystals Consisting of Intermolecular Hydrogen‐Bonded Sheets

Introduction of functional groups that can form intermolecular hydrogen bonds into highly‐emissive luminophores is a promising way to induce mechanochromic luminescence. Herein, we report that a 9,10‐bis(phenylethynyl)anthracene derivative featuring two amide groups forms green‐emissive crystals based on two‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonded molecular sheets. Mechanical grinding changed the emission from green to yellow, owing to a transition from a crystalline to an amorphous phase. Infrared spectroscopy revealed that mechanical stimuli disrupted the linear hydrogen‐bonding formation. A thermal treatment recovered the original green photoluminescence.     

直立碳纳米管超级电容器的研究

在石英玻璃基底上,以酞菁裂解法低压气相沉积制备大面积管径均匀、长度一致的直立碳纳米管.分别应用电解质溶液浸润、酸处理和循环伏安扫描等3种不同方法纯化活化该直立碳纳米管,并以活化后的碳纳米管作为原型超级电容器的电极.循环伏安扫描和交流阻抗测试表明,CV曲线呈近似矩形,交流阻抗最大相位角超过80°,该直立碳纳米管的比电容为16~32F/g,乃超级电容器理想的电极材料.     

基于六元环生长机理高产制备碳纳米管

基于六元环生长机理,以苯为前驱物高产率地制备了多壁碳纳米管。通过调变及优化催化剂的组成和用量、苯通量、生长温度等参量,碳纳米管的最高产率可达859wt%。高分辨透射电子显微镜、扫描电子显微镜、热重-差热分析仪、X射线衍射等分析结果表明,本方法制得的碳纳米管产物的直径约20 nm,纯度高,具有良好的石墨化程度。     

Bio‐Inspired Photonic‐Crystal Microchip for Fluorescent Ultratrace Detection

Ultratrace detection attracts great interest because it is still a challenge to the early diagnosis and drug testing. Enriching the targets from highly diluted solutions to the sensitive area is a promising method. Inspired by the fog‐collecting structure on Stenocara beetle’s back, a photonic‐crystal (PC) microchip with hydrophilic–hydrophobic micropattern was fabricated by inkjet printing. This device was used to realize high‐sensitive ultratrace detection of fluorescence analytes and fluorophore‐based assays. Coupled with the fluorescence enhancement effect of a PC, detection down to 10^?16 mol L^?1 was achieved. This design can be combined with biophotonic devices for the detection of drugs, diseases, and pollutions of the ecosystem.     

铂纳米颗粒修饰直立碳纳米管电极的葡萄糖生物传感器

基于Pt纳米颗粒修饰直立的碳纳米管电极制备了葡萄糖生物传感器.铂纳米颗粒是利用电位脉冲沉积法修饰到直立碳纳米管上的,可以增强电极对酶反应过程当中产生的过氧化氢的催化行为.用扫描电镜和透射电镜观察了直立碳纳米管在修饰Pt纳米颗粒前后的形态.该酶电极对葡萄糖的氧化表现出很好的响应,线性范围为1×10-5～7×10-3mol/L,响应时间小于5s,并且有很好的重现性.     

Biosensors Based on Aligned Carbon Nanotubes Coated with Inherently Conducting Polymers

The use of multiwalled aligned carbon nanotubes provides a novel electrode platform for inherently conducting polymer based biosensors. The example used here to highlight the usefulness of such a platform is the polypyrrole based glucose oxidase system for detection of glucose. The use of these three dimensional electrodes offers advantages in that large accessible enzyme loadings can be obtained within an ultrathin layer. It has also been found that the detection of H₂O₂ at these new electrode structures containing iron loaded nanotube tips can be achieved at low anodic potentials. The result is a sensitive and selective glucose sensor.     

Hollow Nanotubes of N‐Doped Carbon on CoS

Low‐cost, single‐step synthesis of hollow nanotubes of N‐doped carbon deposited on CoS is enabled by the simultaneous use of three functionalities of polyacrylonitrite (PAN) nanofibers: 1) a substrate for loading active materials, 2) a sacrificial template for creating hollow tubular structures, and 3) a precursor for in situ nitrogen doping. The N‐doped carbon in hollow tubes of CoS provides a high‐capacity anode of long cycle life for a rechargeable Li‐ion or Na‐ion battery cell that undergoes the conversion reaction 2 A⁺+2 e^?+CoS →Co+A₂S with A=Li or Na.     

Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cell Counter Electrodes Based on Carbon Nanotubes

Dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have received significant attention from the scientific community since their discovery in 1991. However, the high cost and scarcity of platinum has motivated researchers to seek other suitable materials for the counter electrode of DSSCs. Owing to their exceptional properties such as high conductivity, good electrochemical activity, and low cost, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been considered as promising alternatives to expensive platinum (Pt) in the counter electrode of DSSCs. Herein, we provide a Minireview of the CNTs use in the counter electrode of DSSCs. A brief overview of Pt‐based counter electrodes is also discussed. Particular attention is given to the recent advances of counter electrodes with CNT‐based composite structures.     

Influence of Polymer Electronics on Selective Dispersion of Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes

The separation and isolation of semiconducting and metallic single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) on a large scale remains a barrier to many commercial applications. Selective extraction of semiconducting SWNTs by wrapping and dispersion with conjugated polymers has been demonstrated to be effective, but the structural parameters of conjugated polymers that dictate selectivity are poorly understood. Here, we report nanotube dispersions with a poly(fluorene‐co‐pyridine) copolymer and its cationic methylated derivative, and show that electron‐deficient conjugated π‐systems bias the dispersion selectivity toward metallic SWNTs. Differentiation of semiconducting and metallic SWNT populations was carried out by a combination of UV/Vis‐NIR absorption spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and electrical conductivity measurements. These results provide new insight into the rational design of conjugated polymers for the selective dispersion of metallic SWNTs.     

具有平整表面的定向纳米碳管膜的制备

为了获得表面平整的定向纳米碳管，通过化学及物理的方法将纳米碳管膜进行反转，使其原来的AAO模板底面成为新的表面，用溶液逐步去除表面的铝和氧化铝后，获得了平整的定向纳米碳管膜表面，从而可将其作为工作面使用. 还比较了5％NaOH和6%H₃PO₄＋1.8%H₂CrO₄溶液去除氧化铝的效果.     

Dispersion Properties of Aligned Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Aligned carbon nanotubes (CNTs) composites can be prepared by post-growth alignment or through the use of CNT bundles. Post-growth alignment requires stringent processing conditions (high-voltage electric field/high-strength magnetic field). In this study, we focused on well-aligned multi-walled CNT bundles (AMWNTs). Achieving a balance between dispersion and required orientation was the main aim of this study. Ultrasonic dispersion will inevitably produce heat, which will adversely affect dispersion. Hence, we developed and attached a temperature-control system to a water bath ultrasonic dispersion device. Further, we studied effects of additional factors such as the type and amount of surfactant on dispersion.     

碳纳米管及碳纤维增强环氧树脂复合材料研究进展

碳纳米管与碳纤维具有优异的力学、电学等性能,广泛用做复合材料增强体,但目前碳纳米管/碳纤维/环氧树脂复合材料的研究具有一定的局限性,只考虑了两相材料间的作用,即仅对单一相进行处理而忽略了另一相的改性。本文从碳纳米管/碳纤维协同增强环氧树脂基体复合材料的思路入手,结合自己的研究成果,综述了国内外相关研究进展。从研究结果可以看出,将三相材料之间完全有效地联系起来,发挥三者间的协同效应,复合材料的性能可以发生质的飞跃。     

Amperometric Glucose Biosensor Based on Platinum Nanoparticles Combined Aligned Carbon Nanotubes Electrode

A sensitive amperometric glucose biosensor based on platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) combined aligned carbon nanotubes (ACNTs) electrode was investigated. PtNPs which can enhance the electrocatalytic activity of the electrode for electrooxidating hydrogen peroxide by enzymatic reaction were electrocrystallized on 4‐aminobenzene monolayer‐grafted ACNTs electrode by potential‐step method. These PtNPs combined ACNTs' (PtNPs/ACNTs) surfaces were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The highly dispersed PtNPs on ACNTs can be obtained. The enzyme electrode exhibits excellent response performance to glucose with linear range from 1×10^?5–7×10^?3 mol L^?1 and fast response time within 5 s. Furthermore, this glucose biosensor also has good reproducibility. It is demonstrated that the PtNPs/ACNTs electrode with high electrocatalytic activity is a suitable basic electrode for preparing enzyme electrodes.     

Enhanced Adsorption of Polysulfides on Carbon Nanotubes/Boron Nitride Fibers for High-Performance Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are one of the most promising high-energy-density storage systems. However, serious capacity attenuation and poor cycling stability induced by the shuttle effect of polysulfide intermediates can impede the practical application of Li-S batteries. Herein we report a novel sulfur cathode by intertwining multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and porous boron nitride fibers (BNFs) for the subsequent loading of sulfur. This structural design enables trapping of active sulfur and serves to localize the soluble polysulfide within the cathode region, leading to low active material loss. Compared with CNTs/S, CNTs/BNFs/S cathodes deliver a high initial capacity of 1222 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.1 C. Upon increasing the current density to 4 C, the cell retained a capacity of 482 mAh g⁻¹ after 500 cycles with a capacity decay of only 0.044 % per cycle. The design of CNTs/BNFs/S gives new insight on how to optimize cathodes for Li-S batteries.