Effect of carbon nanotubes implantation on electrical properties of sisal fibre–epoxy composites

In this paper, the effects of carbon nanotubes (CNT) implantation and sisal fibre size on the electrical properties of sisal fibre-reinforced epoxy composites are reported. For this purpose, the epoxy composites reinforced with CNT-implanted sisal fibre of 5 mm and 10 mm lengths were prepared by hand moulding and samples characterized for their electrical properties, such as dielectric constant (ε′), dielectric dissipation factor (tan δ) and AC conductivity (σ_ac) at different temperatures and frequencies. It was observed that the dielectric constant increases with increase in temperature and decreases with increase in frequency from 500 Hz to 5 KHz. Interestingly, the sample having CNT-implanted sisal fibre of 5 mm length exhibited the highest value of dielectric constant than the one with length 10 mm. This is attributed to the increased surface area of sisal fibre and enhancement of the interfacial polarization. At a constant volume and a length of 5 mm of the fibres, the number of interfaces per unit volume element is high and results in a higher interfacial polarization. The interfaces decrease as the fibre length increases, and therefore, the value of ε′ decreases at 10 mm fibre length. The peak value of the dielectric constant decreases with increasing frequency. A continuous decrease in dissipation factor (tan δ) with increasing frequency for all samples was observed, while at lower temperatures, the values of tan δ remains approximately same. The AC conductivity for 5 mm length sisal epoxy composite and 10 mm length sisal fibre–epoxy composites is higher than that of pure epoxy at all the frequencies.     

Development of the device prototype based on the semiconductor–carbon nanotubes structure for optical radiation detection and study of its parameters

A light-receiving device prototype based on the semiconductor–carbon nanotubes (CNTs) structure consisting of 16 cellular structured sensitive elements grown on the same substrate is developed. The topology of sensitive cells represents holes through metallization and insulator layers to the semiconductor from which the CNT array grows to the top metallization layer. The device prototype parameters are determined as follows: the effective wavelength range is within 400–1100 nm, the operational speed is no longer than 30 μs, the coefficients of peak sensitivity reached at wavelengths of 640 and 950 nm are 197 and 193 μA/W, respectively.     

Effect of the temperature of megaplastic deformation on the redistribution of carbon in Fe–Ni–C austenite

Structural phase transitions induced by megaplastic deformation at temperatures of 80–573 K are investigated in high-carbon Fe–Ni austenite of the invar range of compositions. Phase transformations change their direction from the nonequilibrium dissolution of graphite particles upon low-temperature (80 and 293 K) deformation and the activation of carbon precipitation from the fcc matrix to graphite upon high-temperature (373–573 K) deformation, due to the structure being saturated with point defects.     

Effect of indium doping on the electrical switching behaviour of Ge–Te glasses

Bulk Ge₁₅Te_85?x In _x (1?≤?x?≤?11) series of glasses have been found to exhibit a threshold switching behaviour for an input current of 2?mA. An initial decrease is seen in the switching voltages (V _T) with the addition of indium, which is due to the higher metallicity of indium. An increase is seen in V _T above 3 at.% of indium, which proceeds until 8 at.%, with a change in slope (lower to higher) seen around 7 at.%. Beyond x?=?8, a reversal in trend is exhibited in the variation of V _T, with a well-defined minimum around x?=?9 at.%. Based on the composition dependence of V _T, it is proposed that Ge₁₅Te_85?x In _x glasses exhibit an extended rigidity percolation threshold. The composition, x?=?3, at which the V _T starts to increase and the composition, x?=?7, at which a slope change is exhibited correspond to the onset and completion, respectively, of the extended stiffness transition. Thermal studies and photoconductivity measurements also support the idea of an extended rigidity percolation in Ge₁₅Te_85?x In _x glasses. In addition, the minimum seen in V _T at x?=?9 is associated with the chemical threshold (CT) of this glassy system.     

Effect of Coulomb blockade on the switching time of Ag–Ag2S–Pt atomic switches

A theoretical model based on the single electron tunneling phenomenon is employed to calculate the time-dependent electrical resistance of an Ag–Ag₂S–Pt atomic switch at different applied voltages. While a negative voltage is applied to Pt electrode, Ag atoms precipitate on the surface of Ag₂S electrode where they form Ag clusters. The resistance of switch decreases as Ag clusters grow larger between two electrodes. Our model calculations imply the time required to decrease the resistance of switch below the resistance quantum (switching time) is mainly determined by the Coulomb blockade effect of Ag clusters. The switching time is found to decrease exponentially with increasing the applied voltage, which agrees very well with the experimental observations.     

Study on the effect of the metal–support (Fe-MgO and Pt-MgO) interaction in alcohol-CVD synthesis of carbon nanotubes

This study presents the effect of the metal–support interaction in two systems: (1) iron particle, and (2) platinum particles, being supported on magnesium oxide (MgO) nanopowder in alcohol-CVD process for carbon nanotubes (CNTs) growth. The employment of the different metals but the same substrate (with equal molar ratio) resulted in the synthesis of single-walled CNTs (SWCNTs) or double-walled CNTs (DWCNTs), using iron and platinum, respectively. Furthermore, along with the prolongation of the process time, the decrease of the mean nanotubes diameter in case of iron-catalyzed materials was detected. Interestingly, the extention of the growth time in the synthesis using Pt/MgO resulted in the synthesis of the thicker mean nanotubes diameter. However, for both applied catalytic systems the reduction of the diameter distribution of the tubes and the increase of relative purity of the samples upon the growth time increase were detected.     

Effective synthesis of carbon nanotubes via catalytic decomposition of methane: Influence of calcination temperature on metal–support interaction of Co–Mo/MgO catalyst

The present work investigated the influence of calcination temperature for bimetallic Co–Mo/MgO catalyst on the synthesis of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) via catalytic chemical vapor deposition (CCVD) of methane. The experimental results showed that variation in the catalyst calcination temperature affected carbon yield, diameter distribution and quality of the CNTs. Increasing the catalyst calcination temperature enabled Co–Mo/MgO catalysts in growing CNTs at higher yield, narrower diameter distribution and better degree of graphitization, credited to the strong metal–support interaction (MSI) formed between CoO species and MgO support. We also discovered that the catalysts of weak MSI were beneficial to the nucleation and growth of CNTs, meanwhile the catalysts with strong MSI provoked the growth of CNTs with narrow diameter distribution. The catalyst calcined at 700 °C, possessing moderate MSI, was found to be the most suitable catalyst for the growth of high quality CNTs with the diameter of 7.70±0.77 nm and the carbon yield of as high as 647.4%.     

Effect of amorphous lamella on the crack propagation behavior of crystalline Mg/amorphous Mg–Al nanocomposites

The effects of amorphous lamella on the crack propagation behavior in crystalline/amorphous(C/A) Mg/Mg–Al nanocomposites under tensile loading are investigated using the molecular dynamics simulation method. The sample with an initial crack of orientation(1210) [0001] is considered here. For the nano-monocrystal Mg, the crack growth exhibits brittle cleavage. However, for the C/A Mg/Mg–Al nanocomposites, the ‘double hump' behavior can be observed in all the stress–strain curves regardless of the amorphous lamella thickness. The results indicate that the amorphous lamella plays a critical role in the crack deformation, and it can effectively resist the crack propagation. The above mentioned crack deformation behaviors are also disclosed and analyzed in the present work. The results here provide a strategy for designing the high-performance hexagonal-close-packed metal and alloy materials.     

Microstructural investigations of zirconium oxide—on core–shell structure of carbon nanotubes

Single-walled carbon nanotubes and multi-walled carbon nanotubes/ZrO₂ nanocomposites were obtained by isothermal hydrolyzing and chemical precipitation method for both the carbon nanotubes. The coating was taken place by dispersion of both the carbon nanotubes in ZrOCl₂·8H₂O aqueous solution. However, a highly conformal and uniform monoclinic zirconia coating was deposited on multi-walled carbon nanotubes rather than single-walled carbon nanotubes by this new and simple method. Also, it has been observed that the thickness of the individual carbon nanotube after zirconia coating was increased by isothermal hydrolyzing process rather than traditional chemical precipitation method and it has been confirmed by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy study.     

Dependence of in—tube doping on the radius and helicity of single—wall carbon nanotubes

Using the Lennard－Jones interaction potential between the impurity atom and carbon atom, we have studied the dependence of in-tube impurity doping on the radius of a single-wall carbon nanotube (SWNT), as well as its helicity. The obtained results show that the radius of the most stably doped SWNT is different for different kinds of impurity atoms. This is useful for producing the required doped SWNT. In addition, it is found that the helicity of tube has a strong effect on the potential energy of the atoms doped in the SWNT.     

Laser spectroscopy of VS: hyperfine and rotational structure of the CΣ-XΣ transition

The (0,0) and (0,1) bands of the C⁴Σ⁻-X⁴Σ⁻ electronic transition of VS (near 809 and 846 nm, respectively) have been recorded at high resolution by laser-induced fluorescence, following the reaction of laser-ablated vanadium atoms with CS₂ under supersonic free-jet conditions. A least squares fit to the resolved hyperfine components of the rotational lines gives the rotational constants and bond lengths as C⁴Σ⁻: , ; X⁴Σ⁻: , . The electron spin parameters for the two states show that there are some similarities between the states of VS and those of VO, but the hyperfine parameters show that the compositions of the partly filled molecular orbitals are by no means the same. The ground state Fermi contact parameter of VS, b(X⁴Σ⁻), is only 58% of that of the ground state of VO, which implies that the σ orbital of the ground σδ² electron configuration has less than 50% vanadium 4s character. Similarly, the excited state Fermi contact parameter, b(C⁴Σ⁻), is very much smaller than that of VO. No local rotational perturbations have been found in the C⁴Σ⁻ state of VS, though an internal hyperfine perturbation between the F₂ and F₃ electron components at low N confuses the hyperfine structure and induces some forbidden (ΔJ=±2) rotational branches.     

Effect of series resistance and interface states on the I-V, C-V and G/ω-V characteristics in Au/Bi-doped polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/n-Si Schottky barrier diodes at room temperature

The forward and reverse bias current-voltage (I-V), capacitance-voltage (C-V) and conductance-voltage (G/ω-V) characteristics of the Au/PVA (Bi-doped)/n-Si Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs) have been investigated at room temperature by taking the interface states (N_ss) and series resistance (R_s) effects into account. The voltage dependent profiles of resistance (R_i) were obtained from both the I-V and C/G-V measurements by using Ohm’s Law and Nicollian methods. The obtained values of R_i with agreement each other especially at sufficiently high bias voltages which correspond the value of R_s of the diode. Therefore, the energy density distribution profile of N_ss was obtained from the forward bias I-V data taking the bias dependence of the effective barrier height (BH) Φ_e and R_s into account. The high value of ideality factor (n) was attributed to high density of N_ss and interfacial polymer layer at metal/semiconductor (M/S) interface. In order to examine the frequency dependence of some of the electrical parameters such as doping donor concentration (N_D), Φ_e, R_s and N_ss values, C-V and G/ω-V measurements of the diode were performed at room temperature in the frequency range of 50 kHz-5 MHz. Experimental results confirmed that the N_ss, R_s and interfacial layer are important parameters that influence electrical characteristics of SBD.     

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...     

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.     

Fast electron beam–plasma interaction in single-walled carbon nanotubes

A theoretical study on the plasmon-polariton modes coupled with a fast electron beam inside a metallic single-walled carbon nanotube is presented. The Maxwell’s equations coupled with a linearized hydrodynamic model for the nanotube’s charge oscillations are used. By considering the electron beam effects, general expression of dispersion relation of electromagnetic modes on nanotube’s surface is obtained. It is shown numerically that by considering the electron beam effects, the polariton frequency shifts to lower values.     

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.     

Importance of Darcy–Forchheimer porous medium in 3D convective flow of carbon nanotubes

This article explores Darcy–Forchheimer 3D flow of water-based carbon nanomaterial (CNTs). A bi-directional linear stretchable surface has been used to create the flow. Flow in porous space is represented by Darcy–Forchheimer expression. Heat transfer mechanism is explored through convective heating. Results for single-wall (SWCNTs) and multi-wall (MWCNTs) carbon nanotubes have been presented and compared. The reduction of partial differential system into nonlinear ordinary differential system is made through suitable variables. Optimal homotopic scheme is used for solutions development of governing flow problem. Optimal homotopic solution expressions for velocities and temperature are studied through graphs by considering various estimations of physical variables. Skin friction coefficients and local Nusselt number are analyzed through plots. Our findings show that the skin friction coefficients and local Nusselt number are enhanced for larger values of nanoparticles volume fraction.     

Surface plasmon–polariton modes of metallic single-walled carbon nanotubes

Propagation of surface plasmon–polariton modes in metallic single-walled carbon nanotubes is investigated within the framework of the classical electrodynamics. Electronic excitations on the nanotube's surface are modeled by an infinitesimally thin layer of free-electron gas which is described by means of the linearized hydrodynamic theory. General expression of surface modes dispersion is obtained by solving Maxwell and hydrodynamic equations with appropriate boundary conditions. It is shown that the system generally disallows the separation of the transverse electric (TE) modes and transverse magnetic (TM) modes, except for the case of modes with no angular dependence.