Carbon nanotubes as nanoparticles collector

This communication reports on a new method for the collection of nanoparticles using carbon nanotubes (CNT) as collecting surfaces, by which the problem of agglomeration of nanoparticles can be circumvented. CNT (10–50 nm in diameter, 1–10 μm in length) were grown by thermal CVD at 923 K in a 7 v/v% C₂H₂ in N₂ mixture on electroless nickel-plated copper transmission electron microscopy (TEM) grids and Monel coupons. These samples were then placed downstream of an arc plasma reactor to collect individual copper nanoparticles (5–30 nm in diameter). It was observed that the Cu nanoparticles preferentially adhere onto CNT and that the macro-particles (diameter >1 μm), a usual co-product obtained with metal nanoparticles in the arc plasma synthesis, are not collected. Cu–Ni nanoparticles, a catalyst for CNT growth, were deposited on CNT to grow multibranched CNT. CNT-embedded thin films were produced by re-melting the deposited nanoparticles.     

Ferromagnetic CNT suspended H2O+Cu nanofluid analysis through composite stenosed arteries with permeable wall

In the present article magnetic field effects for CNT suspended copper nanoparticles for blood flow through composite stenosed arteries with permeable wall are discussed. The CNT suspended copper nanoparticles for the blood flow with water as base fluid is not explored yet. The equations for the CNT suspended Cu–water nanofluid are developed first time in the literature and simplified using long wavelength and low Reynolds number assumptions. Exact solutions have been evaluated for velocity, pressure gradient, the solid volume fraction of the nanoparticles and temperature profile. Effect of various flow parameters on the flow and heat transfer characteristics is utilized. It is also observed that with the increase in slip parameter blood flows slowly in arteries and trapped bolus increases.     

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.     

Low-voltage soft robots based on carbon nanotube/polymer electrothermal composites

Nowadays, soft robots have become a research hot spot due to high degree of freedom, adaptability to the environment and safer interaction with humans. The carbon nanotube (CNT)/polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) electrothermal composites have attracted wide attention in the field of flexible actuations due to large deformation at low voltages. Here, the preparation process of CNT/PDMS composites was designed and optimized, and electrothermal actuators (ETAs) were fabricated by cutting the CNT/PDMS composite films into a "U" shape and coating conductive adhesive. The deformation performance of the ETAs with different thicknesses at different voltages was studied. At a low voltage of about 7 V, the ETA has a deformation rate of up to 93%. Finally, two kinds of electrothermal soft robots (ETSRs) with four-legged and three-legged structures were fabricated, and their inchworm-like motion characteristics were studied. The ETSR2 has the best motion performance due to the moderate thickness and three-legged electrode structure.     

Nonlinear resonances of a single-wall carbon nanotube cantilever

The dynamics of an electrostatically actuated carbon nanotube (CNT) cantilever are discussed by theoretical and numerical approaches. Electrostatic and intermolecular forces between the single-walled CNT and a graphene electrode are considered. The CNT cantilever is analyzed by the Euler–Bernoulli beam theory, including its geometric and inertial nonlinearities, and a one-mode projection based on the Galerkin approximation and numerical integration. Static pull-in and pull-out behaviors are adequately represented by an asymmetric two-well potential with the total potential energy consisting of the CNT elastic energy, electrostatic energy, and the Lennard-Jones potential energy. Nonlinear dynamics of the cantilever are simulated under DC and AC voltage excitations and examined in the frequency and time domains. Under AC-only excitation, a superharmonic resonance of order 2 occurs near half of the primary frequency. Under both DC and AC loads, the cantilever exhibits linear and nonlinear primary and secondary resonances depending on the strength of the excitation voltages. In addition, the cantilever has dynamic instabilities such as periodic or chaotic tapping motions, with a variation of excitation frequency at the resonance branches. High electrostatic excitation leads to complex nonlinear responses such as softening, multiple stability changes at saddle nodes, or period-doubling bifurcation points in the primary and secondary resonance branches.     

碳纳米管掺杂聚丙烯腈/铜室温环化为石墨的拉曼光谱分析及形成机制研究

石墨质碳质材料因具有良好的电学、力学、热学性能而在电子设备,复合材料,电池,传感器中得到广泛应用,但针对生产能耗高,污染大,成本高,不可控等现状是急需解决的核心问题。因此,通过使用较简单和成本低的制造技术在纳米级器件中获得石墨碳结构的方法是一个有吸引力的探索领域。表面等离激元技术因具有环境友好、能耗低等优点而受到广泛关注,利用等离激元技术诱导大分子链状聚合物石墨化就是一种具有广阔前景的制备技术,而Cu作为贱金属具有产量高,价格便宜等优势。基于表面等离激元技术,利用激光辐射粗糙Cu表面上的聚丙烯腈(PAN)+碳纳米管(CNT),而使聚丙烯腈在金属表面被石墨化。通过改变基底刻蚀时间、退火温度、退火时间、激光强度系统地研究了PAN/Cu和PAN+CNT/Cu得到最佳石墨化条件。实验结果表明：以PAN作为探针分子,在2.5 mol·L^-1硝酸刻蚀15min的铜基底上,观察到了增强因子为1.39×10⁴的表面增强拉曼散射(SERS)效应。通过使用拉曼激光作为光源,在退火温度为140℃时,可以观察到石墨化的PAN分子结构缺陷较少,碳氮三键消失,其I     

Controlling the electrostatic discharge ignition sensitivity of composite energetic materials using carbon nanotube additives

Powder energetic materials are highly sensitive to electrostatic discharge (ESD) ignition. This study shows that small concentrations of carbon nanotubes (CNT) added to the highly reactive mixture of aluminum and copper oxide (Al + CuO) significantly reduces ESD ignition sensitivity. CNT act as a conduit for electric energy, bypassing energy buildup and desensitizing the mixture to ESD ignition. The lowest CNT concentration needed to desensitize ignition is 3.8 vol.% corresponding to percolation corresponding to an electrical conductivity of 0.04 S/cm. Conversely, added CNT increased Al + CuO thermal ignition sensitivity to a hot wire igniter.     

Effect of sputtered Cu film’s diffusion barrier on the growth and field emission properties of carbon nanotubes by chemical vapor deposition

Growth of carbon nanotube (CNT) films with good field emission properties on glass is very important for low cost field emission display (FED) applications. In addition to Ni, Co and Fe, Cu can be a good catalyst for CNT growth on glass, but due to diffusion into SiO₂ it is difficult to control the CNTs density and uniformity. In this paper, four metal barrier layers (W, Ni, Cr, Ti) were deposited by dc magnetron sputtering on glass to reduce the Cu diffusion. As-grown CNT films showed various morphologies with the use of different barrier metals. CNTs with uniform distribution and better crystallinity can be synthesized only on Ti/Cu and W/Cu. Voltage current measurements indicate that better field emission properties of CNT films can be obtained on titanium and tungsten barriered Cu, while chromium and nickel are not suitable barrier candidates for copper in CNT-FED applications because of the reduced emission performance. PACS 81.05.Uw; 61.46.Fg; 85.45.Db; 66.30.-h     

Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Titanium Metal Matrix Composites Prepared by Powder Metallurgy—A Review

Titanium-based metal composites (TMCs) are showing great potential to replace existing traditional materials in aerospace, automotive, and other high temperature engineering applications. This is due to their excellent mechanical, thermal, and physical properties and improved strength to weight ratio. Weight savings in the aerospace industry results in higher efficiency. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), because of their low density and high Young's modulus, are considered to be an excellent reinforcement for metal matrix composites (MMCs). In the last 20 years extensive research has been carried out to investigate the combination of carbon nanotubes with aluminum, nickel, copper, magnesium, and other metal matrices. The production techniques such as mechanical alloying through powder metallurgy routes and their effects on the mechanical properties of CNT reinforced TMCs are reviewed in this article. The role of the volume fraction of carbon nanotubes and their dispersion into the metal matrix are highlighted. Governing equations to predict the mechanical and tribological properties of CNT reinforced titanium matrix composites are deduced. With the help of this initial prediction of properties, the optimal processing parameters can be optimized. Successful development of CNT reinforced TMCs would result in better wear and mechanical behavior and enhance their ability to withstand high temperature and structural loading environments.     

HL—1装置等离子体破裂的电磁效应

本文描述HL-1装置放电过程中,等离子体破裂及环形导体中感应电压和电流的精细测量。给出了破裂时内真空室和铜壳的感应涡流、磁场和电动力。分析了它们对装置工程的影响。     

Radio frequency versus susceptibility effects of small conductive implants--a systematic MRI study on aneurysm clips at 1.5 and 3 T

PURPOSE: Metallic implants cause enlarged artifacts in magnetic resonance (MR) images at higher magnetic fields, B0, due to their magnetic susceptibility. Interactions of conductive material with radio frequency (RF) pulses also change for higher field strengths, B0, due to the frequency dependence of resonance conditions. Systematic measurements on commercial aneurysm clips and simplified copper models were performed in order to investigate both phenomena at 1.5 and 3 T. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six different commercial aneurysm clips made of titanium, straight copper wires and bent copper models were examined in Gd-DTPA-doped water. RF-related effects were measured by adapted 2D and 3D spin-echo sequences. For reliable differentiation from susceptibility-related effects, variable transmitter voltages were applied. In addition, RF-induced heating was controlled by an infrared (IR) camera. RESULTS: At 3 T, a significant RF-induced electric response could be demonstrated for the copper samples and more moderate for one of the commercial clips, dependent on the geometrical structure determining possible resonant RF coupling. Related RF effects could be distinguished from susceptibility artifacts: a signal enhancement at reduced transmitter voltages indicated locally amplified B1-field amplitudes. No significant heating effect could be measured by IR measurements. CONCLUSION: MR imaging was used to analyze possible RF-induced effects. At 3 T, resonant RF coupling even of small metallic implants has to be considered carefully. Despite a local enhancement of the RF amplitude, no significant RF-induced heating inside the surrounding fluid was found. A direct thermal endangering of patients seems to be unlikely, but extremely high B1-field amplitudes might occur adjacent to the metallic surface with potential nonthermal affection of tissue.     

基于非平衡Green函数理论的峰值掺杂-低掺杂漏结构碳纳米管场效应晶体管输运研究

为改善碳纳米管场效应晶体管的性能,将一种峰值掺杂-低掺杂漏(HALO-LDD)掺杂结构引入碳纳米管沟道.在量子力学非平衡Green函数理论框架内,通过自洽求解Poisson方程和Schrödinger方程,构建了适用于非均匀掺杂的碳纳米管场效应管的输运模型,该模型可实现场效应晶体管的输运性质与碳纳米管手性指数的对接. 利用该模型研究了单HALO双LDD 掺杂结构对碳纳米管场效应晶体管输运特性的影响.对比分析表明,这种非均匀掺杂结构的场效应管同本征碳纳米管沟道场效应晶体管相比,具有更低的泄漏电流、更大的电流开关比、更小的亚阈区栅电压摆幅,表明其具有更好的栅控能力; 具有更小的漏源电导,更适合应用于模拟集成电路中;具有更小的阈值电压漂移,表明更能抑制短沟道效应. 同本征沟道碳纳米管场效应晶体管相比,这种非均匀掺杂碳纳米管场效应晶体管在沟道区靠近源端位置,电场强度增大, 有利于增大电子的传输速率;在沟道区靠近漏端位置,电场强度减小,更有利于抑制热电子效应.     

Electrochemical synthesis and lithium storage properties of three-dimensional porous Sn–Co alloy/CNT composite

Three-dimensional (3-D) porous copper with stable pore structure is prepared by electroless plating. 3-D porous Sn–Co alloy/carbon nanotube (CNT) composite is synthesized by electrodeposition using 3-D porous copper as the substrate. The scanning electron microscope results indicate that 3-D porous Sn–Co alloy/CNT composite contains a large amount of interconnected pores with the diameter size of ~3 μm. Upon cycling, the pore structure gradually disappears, but no serious exfoliation appears due to porous structure and reinforcement by CNT. The charge/discharge results demonstrate that the 3-D porous Sn–Co alloy/CNT composite electrode delivers high first reversible specific capacity of 490 mAh g^?1, and remains 441 mAh g^?1 after 60 cycles tested at different current densities. Even at the current density of 3,200 mA g^?1, the reversible specific capacity remains 319 mAh g^?1, which is 65 % of the first specific capacity cycled at the current density of 100 mA g^?1.     

Strain rate effects on compressive behavior of covalently bonded CNT networks

In this study, strain rate effects on the compressive mechanical properties of randomly structured carbon nanotube (CNT) networks were examined. For this purpose, three-dimensional atomistic models of CNT networks with covalently-bonded junctions were generated. After that, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of compressive loading were performed at five different strain rates to investigate the basic deformation characteristic mechanisms of CNT networks and determine the effect of strain rate on stress–strain curves. The simulation results showed that the strain rate of compressive loading increases, so that a higher resistance of specimens to deformation is observed. Furthermore, the local deformation characteristics of CNT segments, which are mainly driven by bending and buckling modes, and their prevalence are strongly affected by the deformation rate. It was also observed that CNT networks have superior features to metal foams such as metal matrix syntactic foams (MMSFs) and porous sintered fiber metals (PSFMs) in terms of energy absorbing capabilities.     

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.     

Investigating the effect of interphase and surrounding resin on carbon nanotube free vibration behavior

The free vibration analysis of a carbon nanotube (CNT) embedded in a volume element is performed using 3D finite element (FE) and analytical models. Three approaches consist of molecular and continuum mechanics FE methods and continuum analytical method are employed to simulate the CNT, interphase region and surrounding matrix. The bonding between CNT and polymer is treated as non-perfect bonding using van der Waals and triple phase material interaction in first and second approaches. In analytical approach a perfect bonding is assumed between nanotube and matrix. First, natural frequencies of CNT under different boundary conditions and aspect ratios are obtained by three approaches and the results are compared with published data. The results show the frequency response variations of CNT in GHz to THz range. Subsequently, vibration behaviors of CNT/polymer are evaluated and the results revealed the importance of interphase region role in the performance of nanocomposites. The results also showed the convergence of the natural frequencies for 1–2.5% of CNT volume in high aspect ratios using three methods, so that the interphase effects is negligible. In addition, it is observed that the molecular method due to interphase role has proper performance in vibration behavior investigation of volume elements.     

Flow-thermoelastic vibration and instability analysis of viscoelastic carbon nanotubes embedded in viscous fluid

The flexural vibration of viscoelastic carbon nanotubes (CNTs) conveying fluid and embedded in viscous fluid is investigated by the nonlocal Timoshenko beam model. The governing equations are developed by Hamilton's principle, including the effects of structural damping of the CNT, internal moving fluid, external viscous fluid, temperature change and nonlocal parameter. Applying Galerkin’s approach, the resulting equations are transformed into a set of eigenvalue equations. The validity of the present analysis is confirmed by comparing the results with those obtained in literature. The effects of the main parameters on the vibration characteristics of the CNT are also elucidated. Most results presented in the present investigation have been absent from the literature for the vibration and instability of the CNT conveying fluid.     

Investigation of Schottky-Barrier carbon nanotube field-effect transistor by an efficient semi-classical numerical modeling

An efficient semi-classical numerical modeling approach has been developed to simulate the coaxial Schottky-barrier carbon nanotube field-effect transistor (SB-CNTFET). In the modeling, the electrostatic potential of the CNT is obtained by self-consistently solving the analytic expression of CNT carrier distribution and the cylindrical Poisson equation, which significantly enhances the computational efficiency and simultaneously present a result in good agreement to that obtained from the non-equilibrium Green's function (NEGF) formalism based on the first principle. With this method, the effects of the CNT diameter, power supply voltage, thickness and dielectric constant of gate insulator on the device performance are investigated.     

Initiation of vacuum breakdown and failure mechanism of the carbon nanotube during thermal field emission

The carbon nanotube(CNT)-based materials can be used as vacuum device cathodes. Owing to the excellent field emission properties of CNT, it has great potentials in the applications of an explosive field emission cathode. The falling off of CNT from the substrate, which frequently appears in experiments, restricts its application. In addition, the onset time of vacuum breakdown limits the performance of the high-power explosive-emission-cathode-based diode. In this paper, the characteristics of the CNT, electric field strength, contact resistance and the kind of substrate material are varied to study the parameter effects on the onset time of vacuum breakdown and failure mechanism of the CNT by using the finite element method.     

碳纳米管和天鹅绒阴极强流发射特性的对比研究

采用电泳沉积法、碳纳米管纸和化学气相沉积直接生长法制备了三种碳纳米管阴极. 从强流发射性能、阴极等离子体膨胀、阴极起动、发射均匀性、工作稳定性以及脉冲放气特性等多个方面, 对比研究了碳纳米管阴极和化纤天鹅绒阴极的强流发射特性, 研究表明碳纳米管阵列和碳纳米管纸阴极发射性能明显优于普通化纤天鹅绒, 碳纳米管阴极发射性能与碳纳米管取向无关, 管壁的缺陷发射对无序碳纳米管阴极强流发射具有重要贡献. 碳纳米管阴极的起动场强约为普通化纤天鹅绒的2/3, 电场上升率相同时碳纳米管阴极比化纤天鹅绒阴极起动时间短12–17 ns. 碳纳米管阴极发射均匀性优于化纤天鹅绒, 尤其是碳纳米管阵列, 整个阴极表面等离子体光斑致密且均匀. 在二极管本底气压为6×10^-3 Pa时, 碳纳米管纸阴极对应的二极管峰值气压不到0.3 Pa, 约为普通化纤天鹅绒阴极的1/5, 碳纳米管阵列阴极放气量在三种阴极中最少, 仅为0.042 Pa. 结果表明, 碳纳米管阴极在强流电子束源和相关高功率微波器件领域具有潜在的应用价值.