Fluoride and lead adsorption on carbon nanotubes

The properties and applications of CNT have been studied extensively since Iijima discovered them in 1991[1,2]. They have exceptional mechanical properties and unique electrical property, highly chemical stability and large specific surface area. Thus far, they have widely potential applications in many fields. They can be used as reinforcing materials in composites[3], field emissions[4], hydrogen storage[5], nanoelectronic components[6], catalyst supports[7], adsorption material and so on.…     

Enhanced adsorption of paracetamol on closed carbon nanotubes by formation of nanoaggregates: carbon nanotubes as potential materials in hot-melt drug deposition-experiment and simulation

We present the new results of systematic studies of paracetamol adsorption on closed, commercially available, unmodified carbon nanotubes. The results of thermal analysis, static adsorption measurements and the comparison with phenol adsorption data lead to suggestion that the formation of paracetamol nanoaggregates in the interstitial spaces between nanotubes occurs. This effect is also confirmed by the results of (performed in two ways) independent dynamic measurements and by molecular dynamics simulation technique. Next, we show that the behavior of adsorbed paracetamol during heating leads to the creation of a new drug delivery system. The properties of this system depend on the type of applied nanotubes and the parameters of the process called hot-melt drug deposition. Thus, we conclude that confined nanoaggregate formation, as well as hot-melt deposition should be promising effects in the preparation of highly effective, new drug delivery systems.     

Hydrogen adsorption in defected carbon nanotubes

Recently there has been lot of interest in the development of hydrogen storage in various systems for the large-scale application of fuel cells, mobiles and for automotive uses. Hectic materials research is going on throughout the world with various adsorption mechanisms to increase the storage capacity. It was observed that physisorption proves to be an effective way for this purpose. Some of the materials in this race include graphite, zeolite, carbon fibers and nanotubes. Among all these, the versatile material carbon nanotube (CNT) has a number of favorable points like porous nature, high surface area, hollowness, high stability and light weight, which facilitate the hydrogen adsorption in both outer and inner portions. In this work we have considered armchair (5,5), zig zag (10,0) and chiral tubes (8,2) and (6,4) with and without structural defects to study the physisorption of hydrogen on the surface of carbon nanotubes using DFT calculations. For two different H₂ configurations, adsorption binding energies are estimated both for defect free and defected carbon nanotubes. We could observe larger adsorption energies for the configuration in which the hydrogen molecular axis perpendicular to the hexagonal carbon ring than for parallel to C–C bond configuration corresponding to the defect free nanotubes. For defected tubes the adsorption energies are calculated for various configurations such as molecular axis perpendicular to a defect site octagon and parallel to C–C bond of octagon and another case where the axis perpendicular to hexagon in defected tube. The adsorption binding energy values are compared with defect free case. The results are discussed in detail for hydrogen storage applications.     

The adsorption of biogenic amines on carbon nanotubes

The adsorption of phenylethylamine, tryptamine, and tyramine on carbon nanotubes from aqueous solutions (pH 7.4) was studied depending on time and sorbate concentration. The suggestion was made that their interaction with electrodes was determined by electrostatic attraction between protonated amino groups and oxygen-containing functional groups of the surface of carbon. An increase in the adsorption of biological amines was caused by the interaction of the π systems of their aromatic rings with carbon surface hexagons. The adsorption of biogenic amines on carbon nanotubes was necessary for their possible electrooxidation and analytic determination by electrochemical methods with the use of carbon electrodes. Original Russian Text ? I.G. Sidorenko, O.V. Markitan, N.N. Vlasova, G.M. Zagorovskii, V.V. Lobanov, 2009, published in Zhurnal Fizicheskoi Khimii, 2009, Vol. 83, No. 6, pp. 1139–1142.     

Simulation of adsorption of DNA on carbon nanotubes

We report molecular dynamics simulations of DNA adsorption on a single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) in an aqueous environment. We have modeled a DNA segment with 12 base pairs (Dickerson dodecamer) and a (8,8) SWNT in water, with counterions to maintain total charge neutrality. Simulations show that DNA binds to the external surface of an uncharged or positively charged SWNT on a time scale of a few hundred picoseconds. The hydrophobic end groups of DNA are attracted to the hydrophobic SWNT surface of uncharged SWNTs, while the hydrophilic backbone of DNA does not bind to the uncharged SWNT. The binding mode of DNA to charged SWNTs is qualitatively different from uncharged SWNTs. The phosphodiester groups of the DNA backbone are attracted to a positively charged SWNT surface while DNA does not adsorb on negatively charged SWNTs. There is no evidence for canonical double-stranded DNA wrapping around either charged or uncharged SWNTs on the very short time scales of the simulations. The adsorption process appears to have negligible effect on the internal stacking structure of the DNA molecule but significantly affects the A to B form conversion of A-DNA. The adsorption of A-DNA onto an uncharged SWNT inhibits the complete relaxation of A-DNA to B-DNA within the time scale of the simulations. In contrast, binding of the A-DNA onto a positively charged SWNT may promote slightly the A to B conversion.     

Phenol adsorption on active carbon by means of thin-layer chromatography

Summary The effect of the acidity of the media on the adsorption of phenol and creasols was investigated using TLC and using the R_F-values as a measure of the adsorption ability of active carbon. Three types of chromatographic layers were employed: silica gel, silica gel containing 3% of active carbon and silica gel containing 6% of active carbon. Standard solutions of phenol, m-cresol and o-cresol were used as the samples. The acetic acid content of the solvent mixture significantly influences the adsorption of phenol and cresols on the active carbon layer. An increase in the acetic acid content results in a decrease of the adsorption of phenols. However, under specific conditions [81∶5∶7 hexane-diethyl ether-acetic acid, and 48∶2∶8 benzene-acetone-acetic acid developers] the competitive adsorption of phenols and acetic acid may take place, which has been observed by a steep increase in the adsorption of phenol and cresols.     

Phenanthrene adsorption from solution on single wall carbon nanotubes

Phenanthrene was adsorbed from ethanol solution to the surface of single wall carbon nanotubes, which were previously physically and chemically characterized. Different anionic surfactants were added in the solutions to enhance the phenanthrene solubility and apparently have also improved the dispersion of two respective nanotube samples used. Adsorbed amount was determined through the concentration difference measured by UV-visible spectrophotometry. Results suggest that adsorption of phenanthrene is extremely improved in the case of nanotube purified with higher quality. These findings were confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The influence of the surfactant on the adsorption kinetics of phenanthrene is suggested to be significant as well.     

Joint adsorption of benzene and water on carbon nanotubes

The joint adsorption of water and benzene on nanosized carbon tubes (NCTs) (with a specific surface area of 413 m²/g) synthesized by carbonizing methylene chloride in cylindrical pores of an Al₂O₃ matrix was studied. ¹H NMR spectroscopy with layer-by-layer freezing of the liquid phase was used to characterize the water bound in pores at various contents of benzene and water. Due to its higher energy of interaction with carbon surfaces, benzene was demonstrated to decrease the energy of interaction of water with the surface of the NCT sample from 43 to 15 J/g. It was suggested that, in the presence of benzene, H-bonded water clusters only weakly bound to the surface are formed in the cylindrical cavities of the NCTs.     

Phenol adsorption on different nano-sized carbon materials: first comparative study

Carbon nanofibres and multi-branched carbon nanotubes are synthesized by using a new, proposed in this study method. The acid–base, adsorption and geometric properties of nanomaterials are characterised. Next we present first comparative adsorption and calorimetric studies of phenol uptake from aqueous solutions on mentioned nano-sized carbon materials and on nanotubes having similar diameter. The comparison of carbon nanofibres, multi-branched carbon nanotubes, and multi walled carbon nanotubes shows that for non-porous carbon nanomaterials the concentration of basic surface functionalities determines the mechanism of phenol adsorption. In consequence, larger phenol adsorption is recorded for the most basic nanomaterials (nanofibres and multi walled nanotubes) and smaller for multi branched nanotubes having the smallest surface concentration of basic groups. Possible explanation of differences between enthalpy of phenol displacement on graphite and on studied carbon adsorbents is also given.     

碳纳米管吸附水溶液中双酚A的热力学

以甲醇和去离子水组成的体系（体积比90∶10）为流动相,建立了以香烟过滤嘴作吸附剂,固相萃取（SPE）与高效液相色谱（HPLC）联用测定水中双酚A(Bisphenol A,BPA)的新方法。研究了水溶液中碳纳米管(CNTs)吸附双酚A的热力学特性,测定了不同温度下的吸附等温线,并探讨了其可能的吸附机理。结果表明,CNTs对BPA 的吸附主要以快速吸附为主,常温下,碳纳米管对于70 mg·L-1的双酚A水溶液的吸附量可达到 24.65 mg g-1,吸附量随初始浓度的增加而增加,随温度的降低而增大,采用Freundlich和Langmuir方程拟合,相关系数均大于0.99,热力学函数ΔG、ΔH及ΔS分别为-39.48 ~ -43.51 KJ·mol-1、-18.06 KJ·mol-1、71.73 J·mol-1·K-1,吸附为放热、熵增的自发过程,降低温度有利于吸附,并且具有物理吸附特征。     

Comparative study of hydrogen adsorption on carbon and BN nanotubes

The physisorption and chemisorption of hydrogen in BN nanotubes, investigated by density functional theory (DFT), were compared with carbon nanotubes. The physisorption of H2 on BN nanotubes is less favorable energetically than on carbon nanotubes; BN nanotubes cannot adsorb hydrogen molecules effectively in this manner. Chemisorption of H2 molecules on pristine BN nanotubes is endothermic. Consequently, perfect BN nanotubes are not good candidates for hydrogen storage by either mechanism. Other strategies must be utilized if BN nanotubes are to be employed as hydrogen storage media such as utilizing them as supporting media for hydrogen-absorbing metal nanoclusters.     

Ni adsorption on Stone-Wales defect sites in single-wall carbon nanotubes

Ni adsorption on Stone-Wales defect sites in (10,0) zigzag and (5,5) armchair single-wall carbon nanotubes was studied using the density functional theory. The stable adsorption sites and their binding energies on different Stone-Wales defect types were analyzed and compared to those on perfect side walls. It was determined that the sites formed via fusions of 7-7 and 6-7 rings are the most exothermic in the cases of (10,0) and (5,5) defective tubes. In addition C-C bonds associated with Stone-Wales defects are more reactive than the case for a perfect hexagon, thus enhancing the stability of the Ni adsorption. Moreover, the Ni adsorption was found to show a noticeable relationship to the orientation of the Stone-Wales defects with respect to the tube axis. The nature of the Ni adsorption on Stone-Wales defects that have the similar orientation is identical, in spite of the different chiralities.     

Enthalpy and entropy effects in hydrogen adsorption on carbon nanotubes

Interaction energies and entropies associated with hydrogen adsorption on the inner and outer surfaces of zigzag single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) of various diameters are analyzed by means of molecular mechanics, density functional theory, and ab initio calculations. For a single molecule the strongest interaction, which is 3.5 greater than that with the planar graphite sheet, is found inside a (8,0) nanotube. Adsorption on the outer surfaces is weaker than that on graphite. Due to the steric considerations, both processes are accompanied by an extremely strong decline in entropy. Absence of specific adsorption sites and weak attractive interaction between hydrogen molecules within carbon nanotubes results in their close packing at low temperatures. Using the calculated geometric and thermodynamic parameters in Langmuir isotherms we predict the adsorption capacity of SWCNTs at room temperature to be smaller than 1 wt % even at 100 bar.     

Simulated water adsorption in chemically heterogeneous carbon nanotubes

Grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations are used to study the adsorption of water in single-walled (10:10), (12:12), and (20:20) carbon nanotubes at 298 K. Water is represented by the extended simple point charge model and the carbon atoms as Lennard-Jones spheres. The nanotubes are decorated with different amounts of oxygenated sites, represented as carbonyl groups. In the absence of carbonyl groups the simulated isotherms are characterized by negligible amounts of water uptake at low pressures, sudden and complete pore filling once a threshold pressure is reached, and wide adsorption-desorption hysteresis loops. In the presence of a few carbonyl groups the simulated adsorption isotherms are characterized by pore filling at lower pressures and by narrower adsorption-desorption hysteresis loops compared to the results obtained in the absence of carbonyl groups. Our results show that the distribution of the carbonyl groups has a strong effect on the adsorption isotherms. For carbonyl groups localized in a narrow section the adsorption of water may be gradual because a cluster of adsorbed water forms at low pressures and grows as the pressure increases. For carbonyl groups distributed along the nanotube the adsorption isotherm is of type V.     

Porosity of closed carbon nanotubes compressed using hydraulic pressure

Experimental data of nitrogen adsorption (T = 77.3 K) from gaseous phase measured on commercial closed carbon nanotubes are presented. Additionally, we show the results of N₂ adsorption on compressed (using hydraulic press) CNTs. In order to explain the experimental observations the results of GCMC simulations of N₂ adsorption on isolated or bundled multi-walled closed nanotubes (four models of bundles) are discussed. We show that the changes of the experimental adsorption isotherms are related to the compression of the investigated adsorbents. They are qualitatively similar to the theoretical observations. Taking into account all results it is concluded that in the “architecture” of nanotubes very important role has been played by isolated nanotubes.     

苯酚及取代酚在碳纳米管上的吸附研究

本文研究了水溶液中碳纳米管(CNTs)吸附苯酚、对甲酚和对甲氧基苯酚的热力学特性,测定了不同温度下的吸附等温线,并探讨了其可能的吸附机理。结果表明:在稀溶液中碳纳米管对三种酚类物质的吸附均符合Freund lich和Langmu ir方程,吸附均为放热、熵增的自发过程,并且都具有物理吸附特征;碳纳米管与三种酚类物质分子之间的л—л共轭作用的强弱决定了碳纳米管对三种酚类物质的吸附能力,顺序依次为:对甲氧基苯酚>对甲酚>苯酚。     

Studies on the adsorption of organic materials inside thick carbon nanotubes

We clarified the adsorption sites inside the single-wall carbon nanohorns (SWNHs), a type of single-wall carbon nanotubes having thick diameters of 2-5 nm, through the thermogravimetric analysis of the desorption of xylene and benzene from SWNHs. The influence of the sizes of holes piercing through the SWNH walls was also examined. Three types of adsorption sites were found inside the SWNH tubes, which were assigned to the tube tips, the sidewalls, and central regions of the hollow spaces. The experimental results also suggested that the adsorbed xylene and benzene were stabilized mainly by weak self-interactions at the central regions and their quick desorption was caused by the weak self-interactions.     

Ozone adsorption on carbon nanotubes: the role of Stone-Wales defects

First-principles calculations within the density functional theory have been performed in order to investigate ozone adsorption on carbon nanotubes. Particular emphasis is placed on the effects of Stone-Wales-like defects on the structural and electronic properties of (i) ideal tubes and (ii) tubes in the presence of ozone. Our results show that structural deformations induced on the pure carbon nanotubes by Stone-Wales defects are similar, as expected, to those induced on graphite; for the (10,0) tube, the semiconducting character is kept, though with a small reduction of the band gap. As for the ozone adsorption, the process on ideal nanotubes is most likely physisorption, though slightly stronger if compared to other previously studied molecules and consistent with the strong oxydizing nature of O(3). However, when ozone adsorbs on Stone-Wales defects, a strong chemisorption occurs, leading to relevant structural relaxations and to the formation of a CO covalent bond; this is consistent with experimental observations of CO functional groups, as well as of the liberation of CO gas phase and of the formation of C vacancies, thus explaining the consumption of the nanotube film upon ozone exposure.