Effects of Plasma and Acid Treatment on the Dispersion of Carbon Nanotubes in Liquids

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with different diameters were treated by plasma and acid. The CNTs were dispersed in water and the light transmittance of the CNTs dispersoid (the mixture of CNTs and water) was measured to characterize the dispersibility of CNTs. With the light transmittance of water as the baseline, relative transmittance (RT) of CNTs dispersoid was calculated and the curves of RT varying with time were fitted with a function. The effects of CNTs diameter, acid treatment and plasma treatment on the dispersion of CNTs in water were studied according to the fitting results. It could be concluded that the dispersibility of the CNTs with bigger diameters was better. Plasma treatment could improve the dispersibility of CNTs and if the CNTs were acid-treated, plasma treatment could improve their dispersibility further.     

碳纳米管结构对碳纳米管载Pt催化剂电催化性能的影响

在制备单、双壁及不同管径的多壁碳纳米管(CNTs)的基础上, 用液相还原法把Pt沉积到单、双壁和管径不同的多壁CNTs上. 发现制得的CNTs载Pt(Pt/CNTs)催化剂对甲醇氧化的电催化活性随CNTs管径减小而增加. 这归结于管径小的CNTs的比表面积较大, 含氧基团多, 有利于提高Pt粒子分散度, 加上管径小的单壁CNTs具有更高的导电性, 这些因素都有利于提高Pt/CNTs催化剂对甲醇氧化的电催化活性.     

A novel biomimetic polymer as amphiphilic surfactant for soluble and biocompatible carbon nanotubes (CNTs)

Novel amphiphilic diblock copolymer, cholesterol-end-capped poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) (CPMPC), which has poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) (PMPC) as hydrophilic segment and cholesterol as hydrophobic segment, was specially designed as amphiphilic surfactant to achieve water-soluble and biocompatible carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The pristine CNTs were facilely dispersed via non-covalently binding the zwitterionic phosphorylcholine-based amphiphile onto the surfaces of the CNTs. It is interesting to find that CPMPC shows better CNTs solubilizing ability compared with the surfactant of pyrene-end-capped poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) (PPMPC). The biocompatibility of the CPMPC stabilized CNTs was evaluated using cholesterol-end-capped poly(2-(dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate) (CPDMAEMA), cholesterol-end-capped poly(acrylic acid) (CPAA) and cholesterol-end-capped poly(ethylene oxide) (CPEG) as surfactants for CNTs as controls. While CPDMAEMA stabilized CNTs and CPAA stabilized CNTs showed obvious cytotoxicity, cytotoxicity of this novel zwitterionic phosphorylcholine-based amphiphile stabilized CNTs was not observed as indicated by cell culture. The biocompatible CNTs represent an excellent nano-object for potential biomedical applications.     

Effects of Various Factors on the Modification of Carbon Nanotubes with Polyvinyl Alcohol in Supercritical CO2 and Their Application in Electrospun Fibers

Supercritical（SC） CO2 anti-solvent induced polymer epitaxy（SAIPE） method was used to help prepare nanohybrid carbon nanotubes（CNTs） wrapped with polyvinyl alcohol（PVA） nanocrystals.With the variation of a series of experimental conditions or peripheral effects,such as PVA concentration,CNTs concentration,and SC CO2 pressure,the optimal experimental variables for PVA-nanocrystals growing on CNTs have been found.The adsorption of polymer on CNTs via multiple weak molecular interactions has been studied by Fourier transform infrared（FTIR） spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy.The mechanism about the formation of PVA nanocrystals on CNTs can be suggested through the experimental phenomena.These CNTs wrapped with PVA nanocrystals can be directly used as nanofillers to fabricate PVA composite fibers reinforced with CNTs by electrospinning.     

碳纳米管对羟基磷灰石基复合材料力学性能的影响

将力学性能优良的碳纳米管(CNTs)与羟基磷灰石(HA)生物陶瓷相复合,发展CNTs/HA复合材料来应用于骨组织修复领域,有望解决HA生物陶瓷力学性能的不足.通过3种不同的制备方法,即通过表面活性剂将CNTs分散在HA基体中、通过酸碱中和反应将CNTs与HA共沉淀以及通过体外浸泡在CNTs上矿化生长HA等方法来获得CNTs/HA复合材料.深入研究CNTs的表面结构和分散状态对CNTs/HA复合材料力学性能的影响.结果表明,CNTs的添加改变了HA的脆性,导致复合材料抗压力学性能得到提高.但是,由于复合材料制备方法的不同,导致CNTs在HA基体中的分散状态、表面结构的完整性以及与HA的界面结合情况不同,导致其抗压力学性能不同.其中,通过表面活性剂将CNTs分散在HA基体中而获得复合材料的抗压力学性能表现最好,而CNTs与HA通过共沉淀法所获得复合材料的抗压力学性能表现最差.     

碳纳米管对羟基磷灰石基复合材料力学性能的影响

将力学性能优良的碳纳米管(CNTs)与羟基磷灰石(HA)生物陶瓷相复合,发展CNTs/HA复合材料来应用于骨组织修复领域,有望解决HA生物陶瓷力学性能的不足。通过3种不同的制备方法,即通过表面活性剂将CNTs分散在HA基体中、通过酸碱中和反应将CNTs与HA共沉淀以及通过体外浸泡在CNTs上矿化生长HA等方法来获得CNTs/HA复合材料。深入研究CNTs的表面结构和分散状态对CNTs/HA复合材料力学性能的影响。结果表明,CNTs的添加改变了HA的脆性,导致复合材料抗压力学性能得到提高。但是,由于复合材料制备方法的不同,导致CNTs在HA基体中的分散状态、表面结构的完整性以及与HA的界面结合情况不同,导致其抗压力学性能不同。其中,通过表面活性剂将CNTs分散在HA基体中而获得复合材料的抗压力学性能表现最好,而CNTs与HA通过共沉淀法所获得复合材料的抗压力学性能表现最差。     

Electrospinning of poly(trimethylene terephthalate)/carbon nanotube composites

Poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT) nanocomposites containing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with different surface structure and aspect ratio were prepared by melt compounding for electrospinning. The dispersion state of the CNTs in the composites was then examined utilizing rheology tools. The results show that carboxylic surface functionalized CNTs present better dispersion in the matrix than hydroxy surface functionalized CNTs because the former has stronger affinity to the PTT. Besides surface functionalization, the aspect ratio of CNTs is also vital to their final dispersion. The CNTs with lower aspect ratio are dispersed as individuals or small bundles while those with higher aspect ratio are dispersed mainly as flocs with large hydrodynamic radius, showing higher effective volume fraction. The presence of CNTs has a large influence on the morphologies of electrospun fiber and on the appearances of CNTs in the fibers. In the presence of CNTs with lower aspect ratio, continuous composite fibers are obtained. But the structure of those continuous fibers highly depends on the surface group of CNTs. Carboxylic surface functionalized CNTs are well embedded by the PTT and oriented along the fiber axis during electrospinning, leading to bead-free and uniform fiber morphology; while hydroxy surface functionalized CNTs show tortuous conformations with less orientation in the fibers, and as a result, the obtained fibers show beaded and misshaped morphologies. In the case of higher aspect ratio, however, the CNTs prefer to exist as entanglements or knots in the streamlines, and thereby only beaded or even uncontinuous fibers are obtained. Therefore, the formation and fiber morphology of PTT/CNT composite fibers obtained by electrospinning strongly depend on the surface functional groups of the CNTs, as well as on the CNT structure.     

聚苯乙炔/碳纳米管复合材料的导电性能研究

本文以无水A lC l3作催化剂合成聚苯乙炔(PPA),用H2SO4对其进行磺化改性,采用其混法制得了PPA/碳纳米管(CNTs)及磺化PPA/CNTs复合材料,对二者的常温电导率及变温电导率进行了测试。结果表明:磺化PPA的电导率较PPA的提高了3个数量级;随着CMTs含量增加,复合材料的电导率升高;PPA/CNTs导电的阈值是3%,达极限电导率(0.04S/m)所需CNTs含量为25%,而磺化PPA/CNTs导电的阈值是2%,达极限电导率所需CNTs(0.14 s/m)含量为25%。并分析了温度变化对复合材料电阻变化的影响因素。     

一种仿细胞膜聚合物用于碳纳米管表面改性

以新型含有磷酸胆碱基的仿细胞膜两亲聚合物——胆固醇封端的聚(2-甲基丙烯酰氧基乙基磷酸胆碱)(CPMPC)为表面稳定剂实现碳纳米管的表面改性,利用两亲聚合物中的胆固醇疏水段与碳纳米管表面进行非共价键的稳定结合,通过两亲聚合物中聚(2-甲基丙烯酰氧基乙基磷酰胆碱)(PMPC)亲水段实现其水溶性和生物相容性.并以商业可获得的典型两亲分子,末端为胆固醇的聚氧乙烯(CPEG)和卵磷脂,为对照进行研究.研究表明CPMPC和CPEG均具有比卵磷脂更高的对碳纳米管进行分散的能力.而CPMPC改性的碳纳米管比CPEG改性的碳纳米管具有更优的稳定性和生物相容性,通过新型仿细胞膜聚合物改性的碳纳米管在生物医用领域有潜在应用.     

Enhanced photocatalytic activity of mesoporous TiO2 aggregates by embedding carbon nanotubes as electron-transfer channel

Mesoporous multiwalled carbon nanotubes/titanium dioxide (CNTs/TiO(2)) nanocomposites with low loading amounts (0-0.5 wt%) of CNTs embedded inside mesoporous TiO(2) aggregates has been prepared by a simple one-pot hydrothermal method using titanium sulfate as titanium source. The as-prepared CNTs/TiO(2) samples are carefully characterized, analyzed and discussed. In contrast to previous reports with high CNT loading, our results indicate that a low CNT loading slightly influences the textural properties (including crystallite size, degree of crystallinity, specific surface areas, and pore volume etc.) and UV-light absorption of the mesoporous TiO(2) aggregates. The SEM and TEM results demonstrate that the CNTs are mostly embedded in the mesoporous TiO(2) aggregates. Moreover, chemical bonds are formed at the interface between CNTs and TiO(2), which is confirmed by the Raman, IR and XPS analyses. Significantly, we point out that PL analysis in terms of intensity of PL signals seems to not be a reliable way to monitor the recombination rate in the CNTs/TiO(2) composite, due to the quenching effect of CNTs. Instead, the analysis of transient photocurrent responses is introduced, which definitely reflects CNTs as fast electron transfer channels in chemically-bonded CNTs/TiO(2) composites with low CNT loading. Notably, the positive synergy effects of CNTs and TiO(2) depend on both the CNT loading amount and the state of interfacial contacts. In our study, only these chemically bonded CNTs/TiO(2) nanocomposites with appropriate loading amounts (<0.1 wt%) favor the separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs and decrease their recombination rate and thus display significantly enhanced photocatalytic activity for degrading acetone in air under UV irradiation, as compared with pristine TiO(2) counterparts and commercial P25 photocatalyst. In contrast, a high CNT loading (>0.1 wt%) results in a decrease in photocatalytic activity; a simple mechanical mixing of CNTs and TiO(2) without forming chemical bonds at the interface also results in inferior photocatalytic performance.     

Density Functional Theory-Based Studies Predict Carbon Nanotubes as Effective Mycolactone Inhibitors

Fullerenes, boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs), and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have all been extensively explored for biomedical purposes. This work describes the use of BNNTs and CNTs as mycolactone inhibitors. Density functional theory (DFT) has been used to investigate the chemical properties and interaction mechanisms of mycolactone with armchair BNNTs (5,5) and armchair CNTs (5,5). By examining the optimized structure and interaction energy, the intermolecular interactions between mycolactone and nanotubes were investigated. The findings indicate that mycolactone can be physically adsorbed on armchair CNTs in a stable condition, implying that armchair CNTs can be potential inhibitors of mycolactone. According to DOS plots and HOMO–LUMO orbital studies, the electronic characteristics of pure CNTs are not modified following mycolactone adsorption on the nanotubes. Because of mycolactone’s large π-π interactions with CNTs, the estimated interaction energies indicate that mycolactone adsorption on CNTs is preferable to that on BNNTs. CNTs can be explored as potentially excellent inhibitors of mycolactone toxins in biological systems.     

碳纳米管/聚乙烯复合材料薄膜紫外线透过性能的研究

阳光中的紫外线是引起高分子材料老化的最主要因素,高分子材料被紫外线照射后发生一系列的光化学反应,导致材料变色、变脆、透明度下降和力学性能降低,缩短了其使用寿命,长期以来,围绕紫外光对高分子材料老化作用的问题,科学工作者进行了广泛的观测和研究。结果表明,在高     

氮掺杂碳纳米管的制备及其电化学性能

采用弱反应性含氮有机物水合肼、二乙烯三胺对碳纳米管进行氮掺杂处理. 结合X射线光电子谱(XPS)分析和扫描电镜(SEM)观察, 发现两种含氮有机物处理均可使碳纳米管表面成功连接上含氮基团, 并保持了碳纳米管的本征形貌和结构. 水合肼处理的碳纳米管的氮含量(碳/氮原子比为95/2)明显高于二乙烯三胺处理的碳纳米管(碳/氮原子比为96/0.5). 氮掺杂后碳纳米管在水溶液中分散性明显改善, 且分散性随着氮含量增加进一步增强, 因此水合肼处理的碳纳米管分散性明显优于二乙烯三胺处理的碳纳米管. 作为电化学电容器电极材料, 碳纳米管含氮官能团贡献了赝电容, 但其循环性仍需进一步改进. 氮掺杂碳纳米管较好的亲水性, 改善了电解液的浸润, 循环后氮掺杂碳纳米管电极的比容量仍略高于纯碳纳米管电极的比容量.     

Aggregation of Glycerol Induced by Carbon Nanotubes in Aqueous Solution and Its Influencing Factors

Carbon nanotubes(CNTs) have received wide application and investigation because of their unique electronic, chemical and mechanical properties. But the self-aggregation of CNTs limits their practical application and study. In order to disperse CNTs effectively, polymers, such as polyglycerol and its derivatives, are adopted as dispersants in view of their strong interaction with CNTs. In order to understand the interaction between CNTs and glycerol in water in detail, a series of simulations has been conducted to investigate the interaction between them and analyze the influences of CNTs diameter and temperature. All the analyses indicate that the glycerol molecules are prone to aggregate around CNTs with the addition of CNTs. This is mainly due to hydrophobic interaction. It is confirmed that this aggregation is influenced by CNTs diameter and the temperature to some degree. This work will establish the basis for the exploration of polyglycerol and its derivatives interacting with CNTs and provide an invaluable guide to seek for emergent dispersants for CNTs.     

具有隔离结构的聚丙烯/碳纳米管复合材料的制备及电磁屏蔽性能

通过共挤出包覆-热压法制备了具有隔离结构的聚丙烯(PP)/碳纳米管(CNTs)电磁屏蔽复合材料。 其中,CNTs随机分布于PP基体中形成导电相,该导电复合物作为包覆层包敷在纯PP颗粒表面,形成包覆复合粒子,经热压后形成隔离导电网络。 结果表明,所制备的隔离结构复合材料呈现良好的导电性能,可获得较低的导电逾渗值0.28%(体积分数);在CNTs质量分数为5.6%时,该复合材料电磁屏蔽性能达到25.6 dB,同时具有良好的力学性能。 本文结果表明,共挤出包覆-热压法制备隔离结构导电复合材料方法简单可控、绿色环保,对开发高性能电磁屏蔽复合材料具有重要指导意义。     

Functionalization as a way to enhance dispersion of carbon nanotubes in matrices: a review

The past 3 decades of thorough scientific scrutiny of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) revealed that, in spite of their remarkable properties, some technological applications are adversely affected by certain difficulties in handling the CNTs, along with their tendencies, arising out of their graphitic structure, to form agglomerates and exhibit limited interaction with other materials. These issues play a crucial role when CNTs are applied as nanofillers inside matrices, in particular polar ones. In this case, unless several preliminary steps are taken, an efficient and uniform dispersion of the CNTs becomes impossible, thus the nanocomposite cannot exhibit the expected final properties. Unfortunately, a universal procedure does not exist since the problem of the dispersion of CNTs is very complex, and its solution requires an advanced understanding of the properties of the CNTs (e.g. whether the CNTs are single- or multiwalled, size, length, lattice defects etc.) as well as of the matrices used. This review aims to help the reader to select the appropriate dispersion procedure by acquiring fundamental knowledge regarding: (1) the synthesis and properties of pristine CNTs; (2) methods of chemical functionalization and properties of functionalized CNTs; and (3) methodologies for the mechanical dispersion of CNTs. A brief overview regarding chemo-physical characterization techniques is also given to enable a better evaluation of the properties of the CNTs, both before and after functionalization.     

Carbon nanotubes as a conductive additive in LiFePO<Subscript>4</Subscript> cathode material for lithium-ion batteries

The electrochemical properties and cyclic performances of commercial LiFePO₄ cathode material with different ratio of carbon black (CB) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as conductive material were tested in this study. Compared with other samples, the sample with 3 wt % CNTs exhibited the best electro-chemical and cyclic performances at various discharging rate at room temperature; and adhesion strength of electrode was improved by adding CNTs. The enhanced electrode performance may due to the unique natures of CNTs and the contact area of CNTs with active material or current collector.     

Synergistical assembly of multiwalled carbon nanotubes/polyaniline network for dye‐sensitized solar cells

In this study, an aniline (ANI) solution containing well‐dispersed multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNTs) has been prepared. With an aim of improving the dispersability of CNTs in ANI monomer, we synthesize CNTs/ANI complexes using a reflux technique which can be electrochemically polymerized to form well‐dispersed CNTs/polyaniline (PANI) films. The refluxed CNTs/ANI solution can be used to prepare high porous CNTs/PANI network via an electrochemical polymerization for applying as counter electrodes in dye‐sensitized solar cells. Compared with the pristine PANI, the multiwalled CNTs/PANI network shows more porous morphology and higher electrocatalytic activity, resulting in the acceleration of the reaction (triiodide (I^3?) to iodide (I^?)) of the redox electrolyte. The enhancement of the electrocatalytic activity is attributed to the interactions between multiwalled CNTs and PANI, promoting the quinoid ring structure and thus enhancing the conductivity of the polymer chains. The device, assembled with multiwalled CNTs/PANI network as counter electrodes, delivers 7.67% power conversion efficiency, which is comparable to 7.43% of that with Pt. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

利用无水乙醇分解制备碳纳米管

利用CVD法高温分解无水乙醇,以分子筛（合成皂石）基体上的Fe颗粒为催化剂,制备出了管壁更薄、端部为开口结构的碳纳米管.本实验制备出的碳纳米管,相对于传统CVD方法制备出的碳纳米管,在实验条件控制稳定的情况下,管壁较直、缺陷较少、管内径较大.具有这样结构的碳纳米管在储氢等方面应具备更为优良的效果,从而有着潜在的应用前景.     

Absorption and Structural Property of Ethanol/Water Mixture with Carbon Nanotubes

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are performed to study the structure and adsorption of ethanol/water mixture within carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Inside the (6,6) and (10,10) CNTs, there are always almost full of ethanol molecules and hardly water molecules. Inside wider CNTs, there are some water molecules, while the ethanol mass fractions inside the CNTs are still much higher than the corresponding bulk values. A series of structural analysis for the molecules inside and outside the CNTs are performed, including the distributions of radial, axial, angular density, orientation, and the number of hydrogen bonds. The angular density distribution of the molecules in the first solvation shell outside the CNTs indicates that the methyl groups of ethanol molecules have the strongest interaction with the carbon wall, and are pinned to the centers of the hexagons of the CNTs. Based on the understanding of the microscopic mechanism of these phenomena, we propose that the CNTs prefer to contain ethanol rather than methanol.