Standing or lying C70s encapsulated in carbon nanotubes with different diameters

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) encapsulating C₇₀s, so-called C₇₀ peapods, were synthesized in high yield by a vapor-phase doping method. Raman spectra, high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) measurement indicate that the tube diameter is one of the important factors to determine the orientation of C₇₀ molecules inside the SWNTs. SWNTs with different diameters give different alignment of C₇₀ molecules. The lying orientation is favorable over the standing orientation in thin nanotube, i.e. 1.36 nm nanotubes, whereas the standing orientation is favorable in thick nanotubes, i.e. 1.49 and 1.61 nm nanotubes.     

碳纳米片-碳纳米管复合材料的一步合成及其场 发射性质研究

利用等离子体化学气相沉积技术, 在引入Ti过渡层后的Co膜表面一步制备出碳纳米片-碳纳米管复合材料, 研究了Co膜厚度对复合材料形貌及场发射性质的影响. 当Co薄膜厚度为11 nm时, 得到了垂直基片定向生长的碳纳米管和碳纳米片复合物, 此时, 碳纳米片分布在碳纳米管的管壁上和管的顶端, 样品的场发射性能最佳.     

碳纳米管包裹的硅纳米线复合结构的热稳定性研究

采用经典分子动力学方法模拟一定直径[111]晶向的硅纳米线填充不同扶手椅型单壁碳纳米管复合结构的加热过程, 通过可视化和能量分析的方法判断复合结构中硅纳米线和碳纳米管的热稳定性. 通过讨论碳纳米管的空间限制作用和分子间相互作用力的关系, 对碳纳米管和硅纳米线的热稳定性变化进行初步解释. 研究发现碳纳米管中硅纳米线的热稳定性和碳纳米管的直径关系密切: 当管径较小时, 硅纳米线的热稳定性有所提高, 当管径增大到一定大小时, 硅纳米线的热稳定性会突然显著地下降, 直到硅纳米线与管壁不存在分子间相互作用力, 硅纳米线的热稳定性才会恢复. 而硅纳米线填充到碳纳米管中对碳纳米管的热稳定性有着明显的降低作用.     

First-principle study of interaction of molecular hydrogen with BC<Subscript>3</Subscript> composite single-walled nanotube

The physisorption of molecular hydrogen in BC₃ composite single-walled nanotube, investigated using density functional theory, was compared with single-walled carbon nanotube. Both external and internal adsorption sites of these two nanotubes have been studied with the hydrogen molecular axis oriented parallel to the nanotube wall. The calculated results show that: ([see full textsee full text]) the physisorption energies of a H₂ molecule are larger for BC₃(8,0) composite nanotube than for C(8,0) nanotube at all adsorption sites examined. ([see full textsee full text]) For these two nanotubes, the physisorption energies are larger for hydrogen bound inside the nanotubes than for adsorption outside the nanotubes. The different behavior between these two nanotubes is explained by the contour plots of electron density and charge-density difference of them. The present computations suggest that BC₃ nanotube may be a better candidate for hydrogen storage than carbon nanotube.     

Investigation of metal-containing carbon nanostructures prepared from functional polymers

Metal-containing carbon nanostructures are prepared by heating poly(vinyl alcohol) in mineral media with a lamellar structure at a temperature below 300°C. It is demonstrated that three possible types of nanostructures can be formed, namely, multilayer carbon nanotubes, spherical carbon nanoparticles, and finely crystalline carbon structures. According to the data of transmission electron microscopy, the nanotube size falls in the range from 50 to 300 nm and the nanotubes themselves have a stranded structure.     

Stability of carbon nanotubes: how small can they be?

Experimental evidence has been found for the existence of small single wall carbon nanotubes with diameters of 0.5 and 0.33 nm by high resolution transmission electron microscopy, and their mechanical stability was investigated using tight-binding molecular dynamics simulations. It is shown that, while the carbon tubes with diameters smaller than 0.4 nm are energetically less favorable than a graphene sheet, some of them are indeed mechanically stable at temperatures as high as 1100 degrees C. The 0.33 nm carbon tube observed is likely a (4, 0) tube and is indeed part of a compound nanotube system that forms perhaps the smallest metal-semiconductor-metal tubular junction yet synthesized.     

Selective growth of carbon nantoubes on SiO2/Si substrate

Three-step raising temperature process was employed to fabricate carbon nanotubes by pyrolysis of ferrocene/melamine mixtures on silica and single crystalline silicon wafers respectively. Then the morphologies, structures and compositions of obtained carbon nanotubes are investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscope (EDX) and electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS). TEM and SEM observation shows that on silica substrate, high-oriented carbon nanotube can grow compactly to form continuous film on both frontal and cross-section surfaces, but on silicon substrate, only can form on cross-section surface. These carbon nanotubes have much irregular cup-like structure, and with outer diameter varying from 25 nm to 35 nm. At the top end of carbon nanotube there is a catalyst particle. EDX analysis reveals that the particle are iron cluster, and EELS spectrum indicates that the nanotube is composed of pure carbon. Finally, the effect of substrate surface roughness on the growth behavior of carbon nanotubes has been discussed.     

Magnetic field dependence of the hexagonal to isotropic transition temperature of a single-walled carbon nanotubes dispersed lyotropic liquid crystal

We have carried out electrical conductivity studies on a single-walled carbon nanotubes dispersed lyotropic liquid crystal consisting of 50 wt.% TX-100 in water as a function of magnetic field and temperature. This system exhibits hexagonal and isotropic phases on heating. For all the applied magnetic fields, the temperature dependence of electrical conductivity of the carbon nanotubes dispersed lyotropic liquid crystal system exhibits a discontinuous change at the hexagonal to isotropic transition temperature. We find that the magnetic field dependence of the hexagonal to isotropic transition temperature is similar to that of the viscosity of the system. Using photo images of the sample, we find that the carbon nanotubes in the lyotropic liquid crystal form magnetic field dependent aggregates. We find spherical, rod and hook-like nanotube aggregates for low and high applied magnetic fields respectively. These nanotube aggregates alter the viscosity of our system which in turn alters the transition temperatures.     

High-field quasiballistic transport in short carbon nanotubes

Single walled carbon nanotubes with Pd Ohmic contacts and lengths ranging from several microns down to 10 nm are investigated by electron transport experiments and theory. The mean-free path (MFP) for acoustic phonon scattering is estimated to be l(ap) approximately 300 nm, and that for optical phonon scattering is l(op) approximately 15 nm. Transport through very short (approximately 10 nm) nanotubes is free of significant acoustic and optical phonon scattering and thus ballistic and quasiballistic at the low- and high-bias voltage limits, respectively. High currents of up to 70 microA can flow through a short nanotube. Possible mechanisms for the eventual electrical breakdown of short nanotubes at high fields are discussed. The results presented here have important implications to high performance nanotube transistors and interconnects.     

Electron holography of field-emitting carbon nanotubes

Electron holography performed in situ inside a high resolution transmission electron microscope has been used to determine the magnitude and spatial distribution of the electric field surrounding individual field-emitting carbon nanotubes. The electric field (and hence the associated field emission current) is concentrated precisely at the tips of the nanotubes and not at other nanotube defects such as sidewall imperfections. The electric field magnitude and distribution are stable in time, even in cases where the nanotube field emission current exhibits extensive temporal fluctuations.     

Raman spectra of polycrystalline bismuth titanate nanotubes

The Raman spectra of bismuth titanate Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ nanotubes synthesized by the template method on an Al₂O₃ membrane have been studied. The samples prepared represent an array of oriented ∼50-μm-long nanotubes with coalescing smooth walls. The nanotube wall thickness is varied from 20 to 50 nm, and the nanotube inside diameter is about 200 nm. The Raman spectra of the nanotubes demonstrate a broadening of the lines corresponding to the stretching and bending vibrations of TiO₆ octahedra. In the low-frequency spectral range corresponding to vibrations of Bi ions with respect to the oxygen octahedra, a transformation due to strong mechanical stresses generated during the formation of the nanotubes has been observed.     

碳纳米管/聚苯胺纳米复合管的制备及其微波介电特性研究

用原位乳液聚合法在碳纳米管表面包覆聚苯胺，制备出了碳纳米管/聚苯胺一维纳米复合管.复合管的直径为50—80 nm，聚苯胺包覆层的厚度为20—30 nm，聚苯胺在碳纳米管表面以层状和枝晶状两种形态生长.研究了碳纳米管/聚苯胺复合管在2—18 GHz的微波介电特性.与纯碳纳米管相比，碳纳米管/聚苯胺复合管的介电常数的实部ε′和虚部ε″在2—18 GHz随频率变化较小，在低频波段介电常数值较小，作为微波吸收剂容易实现与自由空间的阻抗匹配，而且它的介电损耗角正切(tanδ=ε″/ε′)较高，是一种很好的微波吸收剂. 关键词： 碳纳米管 聚苯胺 微波介电特性 微波吸收剂     

Metallization of the semiconducting carbon nanotube by encapsulated bromine molecules

We use ab initio density-functional calculations to investigate the electronic structure of the bromine-adsorbed carbon nanotubes. When a Br₂ molecule is inside the (10,0) carbon nanotube, a trace of electron charge transfers from the nanotube to the Br₂ adsorbate, resulting in an increased Br–Br bond length. When the supercell contains two Br₂ molecules, total energy calculations reveal the formation of a linear chain of bromine atoms inside the carbon nanotube. Electron transfer from the nanotube to the atomic chains of the bromine adsorbates is much enhanced even in large-diameter nanotubes. We suggest that an exposure of the tip-opened carbon nanotube samples to a modest Br₂ partial pressure could result in a strong hole-doping of the nanotube, which makes the semiconducting nanotubes nearly metallic.     

Kink formation and motion in carbon nanotubes at high temperatures

We report that kink motion is a universal plastic deformation mode in all carbon nanotubes when being tensile loaded at high temperatures. The kink motion, observed inside a high-resolution transmission electron microscope, is reminiscent of dislocation motion in crystalline materials: namely, it dissociates and multiplies. The kinks are nucleated from vacancy creation and aggregation, and propagate in either a longitudinal or a spiral path along the nanotube walls. The kink motion is related to dislocation glide and climb influenced by external stress and high temperatures in carbon nanotubes.     

碳纳米管氧化成环制备研究

采用化学气相沉积方法制备的碳纳米管，用酸溶液进行弱氧化处理，经适当温度在大气中烧 灼后碳纳米管发生弯曲，在样品中出现大量的环状结构. 利用原子力显微镜、透射电子显微 镜和扫描电子显微镜对典型环直径为300 nm的碳纳米管环进行了表征. 烧灼温度和烧灼时间 对环的结构和产率有重要的影响. 实验数据统计结果表明，烧灼温度在510—530℃区间内 可得到超过40%的碳纳米管环产率，并且烧灼时间延长到120 min有利于提高碳纳米管环的产 率. 在加热情况下，碳纳米管端结合的羧基官能团脱水成酯，导致弯曲的碳纳米管结合成环 . 关键词： 碳纳米管环 化学气相沉积     

Electronic structure model of a metal-filled carbon nanotube

Carbon monolayer nanotubes filled with K, Rb, and Cs atoms, in which every ten carbon atoms captures an electron from the doping atoms, are considered. It is assumed that a positive charge in the bulk of the nanotube and a negative charge on its surface are distributed uniformly so that the potential energy of a conduction electron inside the nanotube is proportional to the square of the distance to its center. The dependences of the Fermi quasi-momentum for conduction electrons inside the nanotube on their volume density and the tube radius are obtained in the one-electron approximation for an arbitrary number of subbands of transverse motion. The Landauer formula is used for calculating the dependence of the conductivity of the metallic subsystem of the nanotube on its radius.     

单壁碳纳米管受限空间内水的分布

碳纳米管管腔作为分子物质的纳米通道,其储存或输送水的能力具有重要研究价值.为了研究碳纳米管管腔受限空间对水分子团簇结构和分布的影响,本文采用分子动力学方法探究了管径、手性和温度对单壁碳纳米管管腔内水的结构和分布的影响.结果表明:在常温下,管径尺寸范围为1.018—1.253 nm的单壁碳纳米管管内易形成有序的多元环水结构,此范围以外碳纳米管管内难以形成水的有序结构;且随着管径尺寸增大,多元环水呈现由三元环至六元环的结构变化;范德瓦耳斯势分布分析表明,在上述管径范围内,水分子趋向于贴近碳纳米管管壁分布而形成水的有序结构.对比管径尺寸差别较小的碳纳米管,其手性对多元环水结构影响不大.多元环水结构的稳定性表现出温度依赖性,管径较大的碳纳米管内的多元环水的有序结构更易随温度升高而消失.     

Low bias electron scattering in structure-identified single wall carbon nanotubes: role of substrate polar phonons

We have performed temperature-dependent electrical transport measurements on known structure single wall carbon nanotubes at low bias. The experiments show a superlinear increase in nanotube resistivity with temperature, which is in contradiction with the linear dependence expected from nanotube acoustic-phonon scattering. The measured electron mean free path is also much lower than expected, especially at medium to high temperatures (>100 K). A theoretical model that includes scattering due to surface polar phonon modes of the substrates reproduces the experiments very well. The role of surface phonons is further confirmed by resistivity measurements of nanotubes on aluminum nitride.     

Transport phenomena of carbon nanotubes and bioconvection nanoparticles on stagnation point flow in presence of induced magnetic field

This article is a numerical study of stagnation point flow of carbon nanotubes over an elongating sheet in presence of induced magnetic field submerged in bioconvection nanoparticles. Two types of carbon nanotubes are considered i.e. single wall carbon nanotube and multi wall carbon nanotube mixed in based fluid taken to be water as well as kerosene-oil. The emphasis of present study is to examine effect of induced magnetic field on boundary layer flows along with influence of SWCNT and MWCNT. Physical problem is mathematically modeled and simplified by using appropriate similarity transformations. Shooting method with Runge-Kutta of order 5 is employed to compute numerical results for non-dimensional velocity, induced magnetic field and temperature. The effects of pertinent parameters are portrayed through graphs. Numerical values of skinfriction coefficient and Nusselt number are tabulated to study the behaviors at the stretching surface. It is depicted that induced magnetic field is an increasing function of solid nanoparticles volumetric fraction. Moreover, MWCNT contributes in rising induced magnetic field more as compared to SWCNT for both water and kerosene-oil based fluids.     

Multiwall carbon nanotubes synthesized by RF-CCVD on novel CaO supported catalysts

Multiwall carbon nanotubes were synthesized on the FeCoCaO and FeMoCaO catalysts by RF-CCVD at 750 °C, 850 °C and 950 °C, using acetylene as the carbon source. Analytically, it was found that the nanotubes are well crystallized, with outside diameters ranging between 10 and 60 nm and a ratio of the outside to the inside diameters of 2 to 3. The nanotubes did not present amorphous carbon and their purity increased with the temperature of synthesis. A relatively large number of metallic nanoparticles of various dimensions and shapes encapsulated inside the nanotubes were observed by TEM in most of the nanotube samples.