Effects of β‐nucleating agent and crystallization conditions on the crystallization behavior and polymorphic composition of isotactic polypropylene/multi‐walled carbon nanotubes composites

In this study, the effects of crystallization conditions (cooling rate and end temperature of cooling) on crystallization behavior and polymorphic composition of isotactic polypropylene/multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (iPP/MWCNTs) composites nucleated with different concentrations of β‐nucleating agent (tradename TMB‐5) were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD) and scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). The results of DSC, WAXD and SEM revealed that the addition of MWCNTs and TMB‐5 evidently elevates crystallization temperatures and significantly decreases the crystal sizes of iPP. Because of the competition between α‐nucleation (provided by MWCNTs) and β‐nucleation (induced by TMB‐5), the β‐phase crystallization takes place only when 0.15 wt% and higher concentration of TMB‐5 is added. Non‐isothermal crystallization kinetics study showed that the crystallization activation energy ΔE of β‐nucleated iPP/MWCNTs composites is obviously higher than that of pure iPP, which slightly increases with the increase of TMB‐5 concentration, accompanying with the transition of its polymorphic crystallization behavior. The results of non‐isothermal crystallization and melting behavior suggested that the cooling rate and end temperature of cooling (T_end) are important factors in determining the proportion and thermal stability of β‐phase: Lower cooling rate favors the formation of less amount of β‐phase with higher thermal stability, while higher cooling rate encourages the formation of higher proportion of β‐phase with lower thermal stability. The T_end = 100°C can eliminate the β–α recrystallization during the subsequent heating and therefore enhance the thermal stability of the β‐phase. By properly selecting TMB‐5 concentration, cooling rate and T_end, high β‐phase proportion of 88.9% of the sample was obtained. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Influence of multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) dispersion on ignition of poly(dimethylsiloxane)–MWCNT composites

Poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) filled with low contents of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) was prepared using different ways to monitor the dispersion of MWCNT. The influence of the dispersion on thermal conductivity and transmittance was measured. High degree of transparence can be achieved with 0.02 phr of well dispersed MWCNT. Time‐to‐ignition (TTI) was also measured on 2‐ or 4‐mm‐thick specimens heated using radiative unidirectional source. Time‐to‐ignition was found to decrease with the incorporation of MWCNT because more heat is absorbed at the surface. Higher time‐to‐ignition was observed for partially translucent composites, due to different absorption in‐depth profiles. It can be assumed that time‐to‐ignition can be controlled by the dispersion of MWCNT into the polymeric matrix. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cell Counter Electrodes Based on Carbon Nanotubes

Dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have received significant attention from the scientific community since their discovery in 1991. However, the high cost and scarcity of platinum has motivated researchers to seek other suitable materials for the counter electrode of DSSCs. Owing to their exceptional properties such as high conductivity, good electrochemical activity, and low cost, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been considered as promising alternatives to expensive platinum (Pt) in the counter electrode of DSSCs. Herein, we provide a Minireview of the CNTs use in the counter electrode of DSSCs. A brief overview of Pt‐based counter electrodes is also discussed. Particular attention is given to the recent advances of counter electrodes with CNT‐based composite structures.     

二氧化碳与环氧化合物直接制备聚碳酸酯

综述了近几年来发展的用于二氧化碳与环氧化合物直接催化合成聚碳酸酯的各类催化剂,并详细讨论了其催化反应机理.利用二氧化碳与环氧化合物来合成聚碳酸酯,对于高分子合成化学、碳资源利用和环境保护都具有重大意义.它是发展聚碳酸酯生产的一个具有很大潜力的方面.     

CVD法不同条件下制备的多壁碳纳米管的Fenton氧化改性

碳纳米管经焙烧和稀硝酸纯化处理后,在相同的实验条件下,采用Fenton试剂产生的·OH分别对CVD法合成的两种制备条件不同的多壁碳纳米管进行氧化改性处理。红外光谱(FT IR)表明,改性后的两种碳管结构中都引入了羟基、羰基和羧基等含氧官能团。此外,由于制备条件不同,导致它们的石墨化程度、缺陷含量和抗氧化能力等性质也不同,因此CVD法制备条件能够对碳管Fenton氧化改性结果产生重要影响。机理分析表明,这些含氧官能团可以看作是具有强亲电性和强氧化性的·OH对碳管上缺陷位置和不饱和键进行攻击的结果。     

载铜活性炭吸附一氧化碳的密度泛函理论计算

应用密度泛函理论和相对论有效核势方法, 用C₁₆H₁₀, C₁₃H₉, C₁₂H₁₂原子簇模型模拟活性炭表面, 计算得到了CO在载铜活性炭上的吸附位、吸附构型和吸附能. 研究表明: 载铜活性炭吸附CO的过程, 本质上是Cu(I)通过σ-π配键与CO络合, 形成Cu—C键的过程. 载铜活性炭对CO的络合吸附能在50～60 kJ/mol之间, 远大于活性炭对CO的物理吸附能(9.15 kJ/mol), 因而络合吸附更稳定, 选择性也更高. Cu(I)选择吸附在活性炭表面的顶位和桥位, 一个Cu(I)至多可以吸附一个到两个CO分子, 但吸附一个CO比吸附两个CO稳定.     

碳纳米管修饰金电极检测特定序列DNA

利用化学偶联法将末端修饰氨基的寡聚核苷酸固定在表面修饰有羧基化碳纳米管(CNTs-COOH)的金电极表面, 制备新型核酸探针, 可以特异性结合目标单链寡聚核苷酸. 以阿霉素作为嵌合指示剂, 利用示差脉冲法测定杂交的结果. 经过实验条件的优化, 测定DNA浓度在1.0×10^－6～1.0×10^－9 mol/L呈良好的线性关系. 检测限为: 2.54×10^－10 mol/L. 碳纳米管特有的纳米结构对检测结果的放大作用, 提高了该传感器的检测限和灵敏度.     

乙二胺溶剂热还原法制备碳纳米管

以乙二胺作为溶剂和碳源,用KBH4还原NiCl2得到的镍作为催化剂,于300℃制备碳纳米管。X-射线衍射(XRD)、透射电子显微镜(TEM)、选区电子衍射(SAED)和Raman光谱分析证明,产品为多壁碳纳米管,直径约为100nm,长度达几微米。该方法具有反应温度低、反应时间短、操作简便等特点。     

Photocatalytic Synthesis of Oxygenates from Gaseous CO2 and CH4 over Semiconductor

Photoinduced synthesis of CO2 and CH4 was investigated using a batch reaction system on several photoactive materials supported on silicon dioxide. Single semiconductor showed higher selectivity to C1 compounds. The production of C2-C3 oxygenates took place preferentially on composite semiconductor photocatalysts. In particular, it was found that acetone was the primary product over Cu/CdS-TiO2/SiO2.     

LiNi0.8Co0.2O2 / MWNTs复合物超级电容器电极材料的研究

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were used as the conductive additive in the electrode materials. The electrochemical properties of supercapacitors based on LiNi_0.8Co_0.2O₂ / MWNTs composite and LiNi_0.8Co_0.2O₂/acetylene black composite and MWNTs in 1.0 mol·L^-1 LiClO₄ / EC+DEC [V(EC)∶V(DEC)=1∶1] electrolyte were investigated by means of constant charge/discharge current tests, respectively. The experimental results show that the LiNi_0.8Co_0.2O₂ / MWNTs composite has better performance than that of others, and the maximum specific capacitance of the supercapacitor can reach 271.6 F·g^-1, while the energy density is up to 339.5 Wh·kg^-1. Furthermore, it is remarkable that the performance of MWNTs is better than that of acetylene black as the conductive additive.