Improvement of oxidation resistance of polymer-based nanocomposites through sonication of carbonaceous nanoparticles

The work aim is focused on two different aspects: first, the investigation of the effect of extended ultra-sound-assisted treatment (us) of carbonaceous nanoparticles, such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and carbon black (CB), on their radical scavenging activity, and second, the investigation of the oxidative resistance of polymer-based nanocomposites, containing us-treated CNTs and CB. Particularly, the CNTs and CB have been subjected to us sonication for different time intervals and the performed analysis reveals that both kinds of nanoparticles show decreased average hydrodynamic diameters and large content of surface defects. Really, the increased content of CNTs and CB defects, achieved during the sonication time, leads to an increased reactivity toward 1,1-diphenyl-2-pycryl (DPPH) radicals and an enhanced anti-oxidant activity toward macro-radicals, coming from the photo-degradation of the host polymer matrix. The studies of photo-oxidative behavior of the nanocomposites, based on Ultra High Molecular Weight (UHMWPE), reveal that the us treatment of the nanoparticles has a benefic effect on the oxidative resistance of the nanocomposites, especially at long exposure times. Overall, the ultra-sound-assisted treatment can be considered twofold powerful tool: (i) for disruption of the nanoparticles aggregations, and (ii) for capitalization of surface defects, amplifying and tuning in a controlled way the radical scavenging activity of the carbonaceous nanoparticles.     

Carbon Nanotubes Coated Fiber for Solid‐Phase Microextraction of Bovine Fibrinogen and Bovine Serum Albumin

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are a kind of novel and interesting carbon material which can be used for separation and purification. In this investigation, commercial solid‐phase microextraction (SPME) fibers (PDMS) were coated with single‐wall nanotubes (SWNTs) and multi‐wall nanotubes (MWNTs) to study their adsorption and extraction ability of proteins, and bovine fibrinogen (BFg) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) were selected as the target proteins. While MWNTs adsorbed more BFg than SWNTs, SWNTs adsorbed more BSA than MWNTs. CNTs can selectively adsorb BFg in certain conditions. The fibers coated with CNTs had advantages over traditional SPME fibers in selectivity and sensitivity. It could be used to separate BFg in bovine blood plasma and also purify BFg from it. The results show that the selectivity, sensitivity and reproducibility of this method are good for real sample analysis.     

Dispersing carbon nanotubes in aqueous solutions by a silicon surfactant: Experimental and molecular dynamics simulation study

The dispersion effect of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in aqueous solutions by a silicon surfactant (ethoxy modified trisiloxane, named Ag-64) was investigated in detail using experimental method and molecular dynamics simulation. The Si–O–Si chain of silicon surfactant was flexible due to long Si–C bond and it could easily wrap onto the surface of CNTs through hydrophobic and other intermolecular interactions. The hydrophilic part of PEO provided the CNTs dispersed in the aqueous solution and prevented CNTs from aggregating in water through steric stabilization. It was found that Ag-64 could disperse CNTs with different diameters and it was an effective dispersing agent. The results of molecular dynamics simulation indicated that Ag-64 molecules could wrap onto the surface of CNTs leading to steric stabilization so that it could well disperse CNTs, and Van der Waals attraction was the dominating force of Ag-64 adsorbing onto CNTs. Our study may provide experimental and theoretical basis for using silicon surfactants to disperse CNTs, which can open the avenue of new applications for silicon surfactants.     

In situ synthesis of CNTs/Fe-Ni/TiO2 nanocomposite by fluidized bed chemical vapor deposition and the synergistic effect in photocatalysis

Carbon nanotube(CNTs)/Fe-Ni/TiO_2 nanocomposite photocatalysts have been synthesized by an in situ fluidized bed chemical vapor deposition(FBCVD) method.The composite photocatalysts were characterized by XRD,Raman spectroscopy,BET,FESEM,TEM,UV-vis spectroscopy,and XPS.The results showed that the CNTs were grown in situ on the surface of TiO_2.Fe(lll) in TiO_2 showed no chemical changes in the growth of CNTs.Ni(Ⅱ) was partly reduced to metal Ni in the FBCVD process,and the metal Ni acted as a catalyst for the growth of CNTs.The photocatalytic activities of CNTs/Fe-Ni/TiO_2 decreased with the rise of the FBCVD reaction temperature.For the sample synthesized at low FBCVD temperature(500℃),more than 90% and nearly 50% of methylene blue were removed under UV irradiation in 180 min and under visible light irradiation in 300 min,respectively.The probable mechanism of synergistic enhancement of photocatalysis on the CNTs/Fe-Ni/TiO_2 nanocomposite is proposed.     

Flow Field Induced Steady Alignment of Oxidized Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes

The steady ordered micro-ribbons of oxidized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were obtained through micro-aperture PTFE membrane by vacuum filtration. After treatment by mixture of concentrated nitric acid and sulfuric acid, the surface functional groups modified MWNTs can be easily dispersed to form a homogeneous suspension. It is found that the steady micro-ribbons existed in the films obtained by vacuum filtration of the suspension. The filtration formed steady flow field and induced steady alignment of oxidized MWNTs. The chemical treatment of MWNTs forming strong interaction between MWNTs is necessity to keep steady of the micro-ribbons microstructure.     

热化学气相沉积法制备定向碳纳米管薄膜

采用热化学气相沉积法(CVD)，以乙炔为碳源，在单晶硅上制备了定向碳纳米管薄膜。通过扫描电子显微镜(SEM)观察了碳管薄膜及衬底表面形貌。结果表明，以多孔硅为衬底生长的碳纳米管管径均匀且离散分布，定向性良好。生长前氨对催化剂膜的预处理具有刻蚀作用，可显著提高碳管的生长密度，从而获得碳纳米管阵列膜。     

Orientational control of liquid crystal molecules via carbon nanotubes and dichroic dye in polymer dispersed liquid crystal

Polymer dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs) using nematic liquid crystal and photo-curable polymer (NOA 65) were prepared by polymerisation-induced phase separation technique, in equal ratio (1:1) of polymer and liquid crystal (LC). We demonstrate that doping of small amount (0.125%, wt./wt.) of multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and orange azo dichroic dye in PDLC generously controlled the molecular orientation, dynamics of LC in droplet and size of droplets. The effects of multiwall CNTs and dye on PDLCs were studied in terms of transition temperature, droplet morphology, transmittance characteristic, contrast ratio and response time. The results exhibited that the values of the threshold electric fields were reduced from 8 V/µm (pure PDLC) to 1.18 and 1.72 V/µm, doped with multiwall CNTs and dye, respectively. The CNTs-doped PDLC shows faster switching response as compared with pure PDLC and dye-doped PDLC. However, dye-doped PDLC shows much higher contrast among all PDLC samples. Further, the results also illustrate that the birefringence value of LC in PDLCs was changed with doping of CNTs and dye.     

Development of niobium-promoted cobalt catalysts on carbon nanotubes for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis

Cobalt-based catalysts were prepared by a wet impregnation method on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) support and promoted with niobium.Samples were characterized by nitrogen adsorption,TEM,XRD,TPR,TPO and H2-TPD.Addition of niobium increased the dispersion of cobalt but decreased the catalysts reducibility.Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) was carried out in a fixed-bed microreactor at 543 K,1 atm and H2/CO=2 for 5 h.Addition of niobium enhanced the C5+ hydrocarbons selectivity by 39% and reduced methane selectivity by 59%.These effects were more pronounced for 0.04%Nb/Co/CNTs catalyst,compared with those observed for other niobium compositions.     

激光轰击过程中纳米碳管复合光限幅材料组成及结构的演变研究

光限幅材料在激光轰击过程中的稳定性将在很大程度上决定其实用化价值。文章采用红外(IR)光谱、拉曼(Raman)光谱、透射电子显微镜(TEM)及孔结构分析等测试方法对纳米碳管(CNTs)复合光限幅材料在激光轰击过程中组成、结构的演变进行跟踪研究。结果表明,在强激光轰击下,复合体系中二氧化硅(SiO₂)基质的组成未发生显著改变且网络结构趋于完整,具有较好的稳定性。掺杂CNTs石墨化程度提高,SiO₂凝胶玻璃基质对其起一定的保护作用。轰击过程产生的热效应使得SiO₂颗粒长大,由其堆积而成的孔随之增大。     

碳纳米管的电化学贮氢性能研究

研究了碳纳米管电极的电化学性能 ,其电化学储氢量达到 2 0 0mAh·g 1且具有高的电化学活性和良好的循环寿命 .采用循环伏安法研究了氢在碳纳米管电极上吸附 /氧化机理 .