Bending fracture in carbon nanotubes

A novel approach was adopted to incur bending fracture in carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Expanded graphite (EG) was made by intercalating and exfoliating natural graphite flakes. The?EG was deposited with nickel particles, from which CNTs were grown by chemical vapor deposition. The CNTs were tip-grown, and their roots were fixed on the EG flakes. The EG flakes were compressed, and many CNTs on the surface were fragmented due to the compression-induced bending. Two major modes of the bending fracture were observed: cone-shaped and shear-cut. High-resolution scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to examine the crack growth within the graphene layers. The bending fracture is characterized by two-region crack growth. An opening crack first appears around the outer-tube due to the bending-induced tensile stress. The crack then branches to grow along an inclined direction toward the inner-tube due to the presence of the shear stress in between graphene layers. An inner-tube pullout with inclined side surface is formed. The onset and development of the crack in these two regions are discussed.     

Effects of graphene nanoplatelets and graphene nanosheets on fracture toughness of epoxy nanocomposites

The effects of graphene nanoplatelets (GPLs) and graphene nanosheets (GNSs) on fracture toughness and tensile properties of epoxy resin have been studied. A new technique for synthesis of GPLs based on changing magnetic field is developed. The transmission‐electron microscopy and the Raman spectroscopy were employed to characterize the size and chemical structure of the synthesized graphene platelets. The critical stress intensity factor and tensile properties of epoxy matrix filled with GPL and GNS particles were measured. Influence of filler content, filler size and dispersion state was examined. It was found that the GPLs have greater impact on both fracture toughness and tensile strength of nanocomposites compared with the GNSs. For instance, fracture toughness increased by 39% using 0.5 wt% GPLs and 16% for 0.5 wt% GNSs.     

Surface modified graphite nanosheets used as adsorbent to remove 1,2-dichlorobenzene from water

The surface of graphite nanosheets (GNs) prepared by wet ball milling from expanded graphite (EG) was surface modified during the preparation process. The SEM images shown were employed to analyze the morphology of surface modified graphite nanosheets. The XPS date and Raman spectroscopy show that the milling process gives graphene surface more defects and phenolic groups compared to that of expanded graphite and graphite nanosheets. It was found that after ball milling, the surface modified GNs can be used as an effective adsorbent to remove 1,2-dichlorobenzene from water. Their adsorption capacity reaches 28.3 mg/g, which is comparable to that of carbon nanotubes (CNTs).     

Morphology, mechanical and thermal properties of graphene-reinforced poly(butylene succinate) nanocomposites

Graphene nanosheets (GNSs) reinforced poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) nanocomposites are facilely obtained by a solution-based processing method. Graphene nanosheets, which are derived from chemically reduced graphite oxide (GO), are characterized by AFM, TEM, XRD and Raman spectra. The state of dispersion of the GNSs in the PBS matrix is examined by SEM observations that reveals homogeneous distribution of GNSs in PBS matrix. A 21% increase in tensile strength and a 24% improvement of storage modulus are achieved by addition of 2.0 wt% of GNS. The electrical conductivity and thermal stability of the graphene-based nanocomposite are also improved. DSC measurement indicates that the presence of graphene sheets does not have a remarkable impact on the crystallinity of the nanocomposites. Therefore, the high performances of the nanocomposites are mainly attributed to the uniform dispersion of GNSs in the polymer matrix and strong interfacial interactions between both components.     

The effect of geometric factor of carbon nanofillers on the electrical conductivity and electromagnetic interference shielding properties of poly(trimethylene terephthalate) composites: a comparative study

In this study, the effects of filler geometry on the electrical conductivity and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding properties of poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT) composites filled with graphene nanosheets (GNSs), carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and GNS–CNT hybrid nanofillers have been investigated. The GNSs, CNTs, and hybrid GNS–CNT were well dispersed in the PTT matrix using a simple coagulation process. GNSs were prepared from graphene oxide (GO) through hydrazine reduction, and thermal reduction of GO at two different temperatures of 1050 and 1500 °C. PTT filled with different aspect ratios and oxygen functional groups of GNS were also prepared in order to compare the electrical conductivity and EMI shielding properties. The aspect ratios of GNSs and CNTs were estimated by using an ellipsoid model. Percolation scaling laws were applied to the magnitudes of conductivity to reveal the percolation network and filler dispersion. The percolation exponent of the PTT/GNS composites was larger than that of the PTT/CNT composites. The percolated filler–filler network at which the percolation exponent changed was correlated with the filler geometric structure. GNS–CNT hybrid nanofillers formed a complex double brush structure in the PTT/GNS–CNT composites. The geometric structure, aspect ratio, and intrinsic conductivity of carbon nanofillers affected the electrical percolation threshold and EMI shielding efficiency of the composites.     

石墨及其改性产物研究进展

天然石墨是具有片层结构的含碳无机材料,层间由范德华力连接,可用物理或化学方法将其它分子、原子、离子甚至原子团插入其层间,生成石墨层间化合物(GIC);GIC经高温膨胀可得到体积为其几百倍的膨胀石墨(EG);在超声粉碎时,膨胀石墨上的石墨微片剥离,得到纳米石墨微片(NanoG)。近年来,富勒烯(Fullerence)、碳纳米管(CNT)、石墨烯(Graphene)的先后开发,为石墨家族注入新的活力,并为其应用开辟了新的空间。系统论述了天然石墨及其改性产物如EG、NanoG、Graphene、CNT、Fullerence的结构、制备方法、性质及用途。     

Xylitol-assisted ball milling of graphite to prepare long-cycle and high-capacity graphene nanosheet as lithium-ion anode materials

Journal of Materials Science - A simple and effective xylitol-assisted mechanochemical stripping method has been used to peel graphite into graphene nanosheets (GNSs). Using xylitol as a ball...     

高产量制备石墨烯及其优异的重金属离子检测性能

以氧化石墨的高温膨胀为基础,研发了一种简便经济的高产量制备石墨烯的工艺,考察了制备得到的石墨烯对痕量重金属离子的检测性能,检测离子包括Cu2+、Pb2+和Cd2+.所制薄层石墨烯存在部分结构缺陷和残余羟基官能团,电化学检测结果表明,这种结构的石墨烯在检测液相中重金属离子的过程中表现出了很好的性质,尤其是对铅离子的检测限...     

Production of graphene nanospheres by annealing of graphene oxide in solution

We report a simple method to produce graphene nanospheres (GNSs) by annealing graphene oxide (GO) solution at high-temperature with the assistance of sparks induced by the microwave absorption of graphite flakes dispersed in the solution. The GNSs were formed by rolling up of the annealed GO, and the diameters were mostly in the range 300–700 nm. The GNS exhibited a hollow sphere structure surrounded by graphene walls with a basal spacing of 0.34 nm. Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of the GNSs confirmed that the GO was efficiently reduced during the fabrication process. The resulting GNSs may open up new opportunities both for fundamental research and applications, and this method may be extended to the synthesis of other nanomaterials and the fabrication of related nanostructures.      

不同形貌纳米炭/聚苯胺复合材料对超级电容器电化学性能的影响

通过原位化学聚合制备了不同形貌的纳米炭材料(炭黑,碳纳米管及石墨烯纳米片)/聚苯胺复合电极材料.分析表明:石墨烯/聚苯胺复合材料相比于炭黑/聚苯胺、碳纳米管/聚苯胺复合物及纯聚苯胺,具有产率和比容量高,内阻低及明显提高的循环稳定性和倍率性能.石墨烯/聚苯胺复合材料更好的电化学性能归因于:(a)二维平面结构石墨烯有利于大量聚苯胺在其表面均匀沉积及更多的活性位使聚苯胺和电解液离子接触,从而有利于聚苯胺得失电子促使氧化还原反应的顺利进行;(b)石墨烯间的面接触有利于构建电子的快速传输网络使电极材料具有更低的电阻;(c)石墨烯及聚苯胺层层堆叠结构具有柔性包覆限制作用,可有效防止聚苯胺在充放电过程中因膨胀和收缩而从石墨烯表面脱离.     

Reinforcement and toughening mechanisms in polymer nanocomposites – Carbon nanotubes and aluminum oxide

The addition of nanoparticles has been reported as an option to increase the fracture toughness of thermosetting polymers without compromising the stiffness. In this paper, alumina or carbon nanotubes (CNTs), in three different concentrations, were dispersed in an epoxy resin. Mechanical properties were measured through tensile test and the results indicate increases for all nanocomposites, with a maximum for the addition of 0.5% of CNTs (17% in elastic modulus and 22% in ultimate stress). Using TEM images, it was possible to identify the nanostructures and mechanisms that lead to improved stiffness. Fracture toughness tests and SEM images showed that cavitation – shear yielding (for epoxy/alumina nanocomposites) and crack bridging – pull-out (for epoxy/CNTs nanocomposites) are the predominant mechanisms.     

基于镀铜SiC-Cu颗粒制备石墨烯片/SiC-Cu和碳纳米管/SiC-Cu增强体

利用化学气相沉积法(CVD),分别在光沉积镀铜SiC-Cu颗粒和无电镀铜SiC-Cu颗粒表面制备石墨烯片(GNSs)/SiC-Cu和碳纳米管(CNTs)/SiC-Cu增强体。利用拉曼光谱和SEM研究制备温度和保温时间对生成的石墨烯片和碳纳米管的层数和质量的影响。结果表明:利用CVD法,在无电镀铜SiC-Cu颗粒和光沉积镀铜SiCCu颗粒表面均可生成多层GNSs和CNTs;以无电镀铜SiC-Cu颗粒为基体,在1 000℃下保持20 min生成的GNSs质量较好,已经接近单层;利用SEM观察最佳参数下的生成物,可观察到10~45nm直径的CNTs交错分布在圆形铜颗粒之间。     

Production of graphene layer by liquid-phase exfoliation with low sonication power and sonication time from synthesized expanded graphite

Multi-layer graphene was produced through synthesized expanded graphite (EG) liquid exfoliation using organic solvent. Hexagonal graphite (HG) was used as a starting material. HG was mixed with an acidic mixture, dried, rand subjected to thermal treatment. After this process, EG was obtained. This obtained EG was sonicated for 1 h via an ultrasonic homogenizer by blending an organic solvent. Samples were subjected to SEM, TEM, FTIR, and UV-Vis/NIR spectroscopy investigations. After the investigations, it was shown that nano-size graphene sheets were obtained.     

Experimental investigation on the compression behaviors of epoxy with carbon nanotube under high strain rates

The compressive properties of epoxy with different carbon nanotubes (CNTs) contents at quasi-static and high strain rates loading had been investigated via experiment to evaluate the compressive failure behaviors and modes at different CNTs contents and different strain rates. The results indicated that the stress train curves were strain rate sensitive, and the compressive stiffness, compressive failure stress of composites with various CNTs contents was increased with the strain rates and CNTs contents. The compressive failure stress and the compressive failure modes of the composites were apparently different as the change of CNTs contents.     

Enhanced thermal conductivity in polymer composites with aligned graphene nanosheets

We developed highly aligned graphene nanosheets (GNSs) in epoxy composites with incorporating magnetic GNS–Fe₃O₄ hybrids under a magnetic field with the aim to take full advantage of the high inplane thermal conductivity of graphene. GNS–Fe₃O₄ hybrids were fabricated by a simple coprecipitation method, and their morphology, chemistry, and structure were characterized. GNS–Fe₃O₄ hybrids were found to be homogenously dispersed and well aligned through the direction of the magnetic field in the epoxy matrix, as confirmed by SEM observation and Raman spectra analysis. The resulting epoxy/GNS–Fe₃O₄ composites possessed high thermal conductivity in a parallel magnetic-alignment direction at low GNS–Fe₃O₄ loadings, which greatly outperformed the composites with randomly dispersed bare GNSs. The obtained results indicated that the magnetic alignment of magnetic-functionalized GNSs is an effective way for greatly improving the thermal conductivity of the graphene-based composites.     

Proliferation of osteoblast cells on nanotubes

Carbon nanotubes (CNT) have a unique structure and feature. In the present study, cell proliferation was performed on the scaffolds of single-walled CNTs (SWCNT), multiwalled CNTs (MWCNT), and on graphite, one of the representative isomorphs of pure carbon, for the sake of comparison. Scanning electron microscopy observation of the growth of osteoblast-like cells (Saos2) cultured on CNTs showed the morphology fully developed for the whole direction, which is different from that extended to one direction on the usual scaffold. Numerous filopodia were grown from cell edge, extended far long and combined with the CNT meshwork. CNTs showed the affinity for collagen and proteins. Proliferated cell numbers are largest on SWCNTs, followed by MWCNTs, and are very low on graphite. This is in good agreement with the sequence in the results of the adsorbed amount of proteins and expression of alkaline phosphatase activity for these scaffolds. The adsorption of proteins would be one of the most influential factors to make a contrast difference in cell attachment and proliferation between graphite and CNTs, both of which are isomorphs of carbon and composed of similar graphene sheet crystal structure. In addition, the nanosize meshwork structure with large porosity is another property responsible for the excellent cell adhesion and growth on CNTs. CNTs could be the favorable materials for biomedical applications.     

Glass transition improvement in epoxy/graphene composites

Graphene oxide nanoplatelets (GO) were prepared from expanded graphite (EG) and functionalized with triethylenetetramine (GO-TETA). The GO-TETA consisted of a few layers of graphene (~4–6 layers), as determined by atomic force microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed that the TETA was covalently linked to the GO in the GO-TETA sample. Epoxy composites based on the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A with TETA as a hardener and with 0.5–3.0 wt% additions of EG and GO-TETA were investigated. The results showed that the addition of the nanofillers led to an increase of ~20 °C in the glass transition temperature. A slight increase in the ratio of the elastic modulus/hardness of the nanocomposites was observed by nanoindentation tests carried out at a depth range of 300 nm–1.3 μm; these tests indicated a tendency of increased fracture toughness. Microindentation had an enhancement of 40 % in hardness for the 1 wt% composite with GO-TETA relative to the corresponding value for the neat epoxy.     

Vibration damping characteristics of carbon fiber-reinforced composites containing multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Vibration damping characteristic of nanocomposites and carbon fiber reinforced polymer composites (CFRPs) containing multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been studied using the free and forced vibration tests. Several vibration parameters are varied to characterize the damping behavior in different amplitudes, natural frequencies and vibration modes. The damping ratio of the hybrid composites is enhanced with the addition of CNTs, which is attributed to sliding at the CNT-matrix interfaces. The damping ratio is dependent on the amplitude as a result of the random orientation of CNTs in the epoxy matrix. The natural frequency shows negligible influence on the damping properties. The forced vibration test indicates that the damping ratios of the CFRP composites increase with increasing CNT content in both the 1st and 2nd vibration modes. The CNT-epoxy nanocomposites also show similar increasing trends of damping ratio with CNT content, indicating the enhanced damping property of CFRPs arising mainly from the improved damping property of the modified matrix. The dynamic mechanical analysis further confirms that the CNTs have a strong influence on the composites damping properties. Both the dynamic loss modulus and loss factor of the nanocomposites and the corresponding CFRPs show consistent increases with the addition of CNTs, an indication of enhanced damping performance.     

Enhancement of fracture toughness of hierarchical carbon fiber composites via improved adhesion between carbon nanotubes and carbon fibers

Hierarchical +1 composites consisting of carbon fibers with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) grown onto them and an epoxy matrix were processed, and the mode I fracture toughness of these composites was evaluated. The mode I fracture toughness of the initial batches of the hierarchical composites was lower than that of the baseline samples without CNTs. Hence, efforts to enhance the adhesion between carbon fibers and CNTs were made, resulting in enhanced adhesion. The enhanced adhesion was confirmed by Scotch tape tests and mode I fracture toughness tests followed by fractographic studies. The mode I fracture toughness of the hierarchical composites with enhanced adhesion was 51% and 89% higher than those of the baseline samples and hierarchical composites with poor adhesion, respectively. Moreover, fractographic studies of the fracture surfaces of the hierarchical composites with enhanced adhesion showed that CNTs were still attached to carbon fibers even after the mechanical tests.     

Fabrication and properties of CNTs/carbon fabric hybrid multiscale composites processed via resin transfer molding technique

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are effective fillers/reinforcements regarding improving the properties of polymer. In the present paper, carboxylic acid functionalized CNTs were used to modify epoxy with intent to develop a nanocomposite matrix for hybrid multiscale composites combining benefits of nanoscale reinforcement with well-established fibrous composites. CNTs were dispersed in epoxy by using high energy sonication. At low contents of CNTs, hybrid multiscale composites specimens were manufactured via resin transfer molding (RTM) process. The processibility of CNTs/epoxy systems was explored with respect to their viscosity. The dispersion quality and re-agglomeration behavior of CNTs in epoxy were characterized using optical microscope. A CNTs loading of 0.025 wt% significantly improved the glass transition temperatures (Tg) of the hybrid multiscale composites. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to examine the fracture surface of the failed specimens. It is demonstrated that the addition of small amount of CNTs (0.025 wt%) to epoxy for the fabrication of multiscale carbon fabric composites via RTM route effectively improves the matrix-dominated properties of polymer based composites. Hybridization efficiency in carbon fiber reinforced composites using CNTs is found to be highly dependent on the changes in the dispersion state of CNTs in epoxy.