Electron field emitters based on multi-walled carbon nanotubes coated with conducting polymer/metal/metal-oxide composites

The present work describes the field emission properties of multi-walled nanotubes (MWNTs)-based conducting polymer/metal-oxide/metal/MWNTs composites (polyaniline (PANI)/SnO₂/Sn/MWNTs). MWNTs were synthesised by chemical vapour deposition technique. SnO₂/Sn/MWNTs were prepared by using chemical reduction followed by calcination. By in situ polymerisation method, surface of SnO₂/Sn/MWNTs were coated with PANI. PANI/SnO₂/Sn/MWNTs field emitters were fabricated over flexible graphitised carbon fabric substrate by spin coating technique. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterise the field emitters. Field emission properties have been studied using an indigenously made facility. The fabricated PANI/SnO₂/Sn/MWNTs field emitters exhibited excellent field emission properties with a turn on field of 1.83 V µm^?1 and a field enhancement factor of 4800.     

Effect of pyrene-modified multiwalled carbon nanotubes on the properties of epoxy composites

The block polymer of poly(styrene-b-pyrene) (PS-b-PAH) containing pyrene units was successfully applied on the surface of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) and the properties of nanocomposites were enhanced. The morphology of the modified MWNTs was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and the results showed that PS-b-PAH helped effectively the MWNTs to disperse well in epoxy matrices, and these dispersed MWNTs were stabilized by the pyrene modifier. The mechanical properties of the composites, such as impact toughness and flexural strength, and the electrical conductivity of the nanocomposites, are improved significantly after the treatment of the MWNTs using PS-b-PAH. The results show that the mechanical and electrical properties of the modified MWNTs/epoxy composites with PS-b-PAH are obviously superior to those of pristine MWNTs/epoxy composites. The enhanced interfacial interactions lead to good dispersion of MWNTs in epoxy matrices, thus enhancing the mechanical and electrical properties of the nanocomposites.     

Synthesis of polyaniline/ZrO<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanocomposites and their performance in AC conductivity and electrochemical supercapacitance

Polyaniline/zirconium oxide (PANI/ZrO₂) nanocomposites have been synthesized by incorporating ZrO₂ nanoparticles into the PANI matrix via liquid–liquid interfacial polymerization method. The composite formation and structural changes in PANI/ZrO₂ nanocomposites were investigated by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). PXRD pattern of PANI/ZrO₂ nanocomposites exhibited sharp and well-defined peaks of monoclinic phase of ZrO₂ in PANI matrix. SEM images of the composites showed that ZrO₂ nanoparticles were dispersed in the PANI matrix. The FT-IR analysis revealed that there was strong interaction between PANI and ZrO₂. AC conductivity and dielectric properties of the nanocomposites were studied in the frequency range, 50–10⁶ Hz. AC conductivity of the nanocomposites obeyed the power law indicating the universal behaviour of disordered media. The nanocomposites showed high dielectric constant in the order of 10⁴, which could be related to dielectric relaxation phenomenon. Further, the materials were checked for their supercapacitance performance by using cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronopotentiometry (CP) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Among the synthesized nanocomposites, PANI/ZrO₂-25 wt.% showed a higher specific capacitance of 341 F g^?1 at 2 m Vs^?1 and good cyclic stability with capacitance retention of about 88% even after 500 charge–discharge cycles.     

多壁碳纳米管的化学修饰及其增强环氧树脂复合材料的性能

研究原生多壁碳纳米管和己二胺修饰的多壁碳纳米管分别对环氧树脂的增强作用。用SEM、FT-IR及XPS对修饰前后的碳纳米管进行的表征表明,所用的方法可以在碳纳米管的表面接上己二胺。研究发现,修饰后的碳纳米管比原生碳纳米管对环氧树脂有更明显的增强作用。修饰后的碳管含量为2%时,拉伸强度、断裂伸长率和冲击强度比纯环氧树脂分别提高79.7%、160.4%和188.2%。     

Thermo-physical properties of epoxy nanocomposites reinforced with amino-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes

The modification of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) with amine groups was investigated by FTIR, Raman spectroscopy and XPS after such steps as carboxylation, acylation and amidation. Nanotube-reinforced epoxy polymer composites were prepared by mixing amino-functionalized MWNTs with epoxy resin and curing agent. DSC, TGA, SEM and flexural test were used to investigate the thermal and mechanical properties of the composites. The results showed that amino-functionalized MWNTs could enhance the interfacial adhesion between the nanotubes and the matrix, thus greatly improve the thermal and mechanical properties of the resin epoxy bulk material.     

PVPy/MWNTs纳米复合材料的制备及其导电性能研究

通过原位聚合法制备了聚3-戊酰基吡咯(PVPy)/多壁碳纳米管(MWNTs)纳米复合材料。利用FT-IR,1 HNMR,XRD,SEM,TEM,TGA等分析方法对样品进行了结构和性能研究。FT-IR,SEM与TEM表明,PVPy与MWNTs间并没有发生化学反应,MWNTs仅作为3-戊酰基吡咯(VPy)聚合的模板,且VPy仅在MWNTs的外表面均匀的发生聚合。XRD谱显示,PVPy/MWNTs纳米复合材料中MWNTs的两个特征结晶峰(2θ=25.82,43.10°)强度随着VPy/MWNTs投料比增加而逐渐降低直至接近消失。导电性能研究发现,通过MWNTs与PVPy复合,可以显著的提高PVPy/MWNTs纳米复合材料的导电性,其电导率分别达到1.42S/cm(VPy/MWNTs=2.5/1)与0.22S/cm(VPy/MWNTs=5/1)。     

The role of epoxy matrix occlusions within BaTiO3 nanoparticles on the dielectric properties of functionalized BaTiO3/epoxy nanocomposites

In this work, the effects of controlled nanoparticles aggregations of barium titanate (BaTiO₃) on the dielectric properties of epoxy nanocomposites are investigated in detail with respect to different experimental parameters like frequency, ceramic content and temperature. Dispersing silanized BaTiO₃ nanopowder under ultrasonic and stir, nanocomposites of epoxy-amine matrix with different morphologies are obtained. The nanoparticles silane functionalization containing amine end groups effectively improve the compatibility of the nano-BaTiO₃ and the epoxy matrix. Storage modulus, glass transition temperature, tensile and flexural properties of nanocomposites and dielectric properties are increased until 10% by weight of nano-BaTiO₃ loading, well dispersed in the matrix. Above 10 wt.% of nano-BaTiO₃, scanning electronic microscopy and thermal analysis showed that agglomeration of nanoparticles occurs. Rheological and mechanical nanocomposites properties were evaluated and matrix occlusion behaviors were identified. In light of the specific behavior of the occluded polymer, the dielectric properties, especially dielectric loss are discussed.     

Mechanical and thermal properties of epoxy nanocomposites reinforced with amino-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes

The functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) with amino groups were prepared after such steps as oxidation, the addition of carboxyalkyl radicals, acylation and amidation. Besides oxidated-MWNTs/epoxy nanocomposites, amino-functionalized MWNTs/epoxy nanocomposites, in which MWNTs with amino groups acted as a curing agent and covalently attached into the epoxy matrix, were fabricated. Subsequently, the effects of MWNT content on the mechanical and thermal properties for the two systems were investigated. It is found that both the tensile strength and impact strength enhance with the increase of MWNT addition, and the most significant improvement of the tensile strength (+51%) and especially impact strength (+93%) is obtained with amine-treated MWNTs at an 1.5 wt.% content. Moreover, the thermal stability of the nanocomposites also distinctly improves. The improvement of the properties of the amine-treated MWNTs system is more remarkable than those of o-MWNTs system. The reasons for these changes were discussed.     

Study on dispersion and electrical property of multi-walled carbon nanotubes/low-density polyethylene nanocomposites

Sonication is one of the promising approaches to disperse nanoparticles into the base material thoroughly. Furthermore, coupling treatments for MWNTs and polymer matrix also contribute to homogenous dispersion of MWNTs among polymer matrix. In this paper, MWNTs and KH-550 were dispersed with acetone via sonication method, then, the MWNTs/low density polyethylene (LDPE) composites was prepared by using melt blending process. Effects of MWNTs and LDPE coupling treatment on dispersion and electrical property of the MWNTs/LDPE nanocomposites were investigated. SEM observation on fracture surfaces of the nanocomposites explained the functions of sonication and coupling treatment on the dispersion, and electrical conductivity of the nanocomposites was measured by four-contact scheme. The results displayed that the optimum sonication temperature was 70 °C and the optimum sonication amount of MWNTs particles in 200 ml KH-550 acetone solution was 20 g. Moreover, dispersion of the nanocomposites was improved with increasing sonication power amplitude. Furthermore, dispersion and electrical conductivity of the nanocomposites with coupling treatment LDPE were better than those of the nanocomposites with uncoupling treatment LDPE. The good dispersion and electrical conductivity enhancement are based on the strong bonding and coupling reaction of MWNTs and LDPE matrix, which associated greatly with sonication and coupling treatment.     

超声振荡对多壁碳纳米管/VARTM用环氧树脂复合材料导电性能的影响

借助超声振荡工艺促进了多壁碳纳米管(MWNTs)在VARTM用环氧树脂(EP)中的分散,通过真空辅助树脂传递模塑成型(VARTM)工艺制备了MWNTs/EP复合材料试样并研究试样的导电性能。结果表明,随着超声振荡时间、功率和频率的增大,不同MWNTs添加量的试样导电性能均呈现出先升高后降低的趋势。在超声振荡时间90min、功率80 W和频率45kHz附近分别达到了阈值,MWNTs的添加量仅1%就可以达到降低纯EP表面电阻率(1012Ω·cm)近4个数量级的要求。实验还运用扫描电镜(SEM)证实了MWNTs在EP中的分散情况。     

Microwave Absorption Properties of BaFe12O19-TiO2 Composite Coated with Conducting Polymer

This study investigates microwave absorption properties of Ba-hexaferrite (BaFe₁₂O₁₉) and titanium dioxide (TiO₂) particles coated with conducting polymer (PANI) and BaFe₁₂O₁₉-TiO₂ mixture in the frequency range of 8–18 GHz. Samples having different magnetic to dielectric mass ratios and various thicknesses from 1.5 to 4 mm have been prepared to investigate effect of magnetic and dielectric fillers together with influence of conducting polymer layer on microwave absorption properties of BaFe₁₂O₁₉-TiO₂ composite. Structural, magnetic, and microwave absorption properties of composites have been investigated using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and near field microwave measurements using vector network analyzer. Microwave measurements revealed that composites with PANI coating have much higher absorption values which are independent of an absorber thickness. Among PANI coated absorbers, sample having magnetic to dielectric mass ratio of 2 showed better microwave properties in 8–18 GHz range.     

Carbohydrate Coating of Carbon Nanotubes for Biological Recognition

We have demonstrated that multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) coated with a carbohydrate-carrying polymer for use as biological recognition signals can be easily prepared by a non-covalent method via hydrophobic interactions. Fluorescence observation by confocal laser scanning microscopy showed that the carbohydrate-carrying polymers were densely localized around the MWNTs. To evaluate biological recognition affinity, interactions of the MWNTs with lectins were examined by binding tests. The resultant MWNTs were found to acquire a selective binding affinity to the corresponding lectin without a non-specific interaction. On the other hand, bare MWNTs non-specifically interacted with lectins. These results showed that the MWNTs coated with a carbohydrate-carrying polymer have biological recognition signals. Modification of carbon nanotubes with various carbohydrate chains will be a useful protocol for molecular designs of biomaterials, nanoarchitecture and biosensors.     

Fabrication and characterization of TiO2/short MWNTs with enhanced photocatalytic activity

TiO₂/short MWNTs nanocomposites were prepared by the sol–gel method using butyl titanate and short MWNTs as starting materials in the solvent of isopropyl alcohol. Their photocatalytic activity in the degradation of X-3B was studied. The effects of mass ratio of short MWNTs to butyl titanate, and heat-treatment temperature on the photoactivity of TiO₂/short MWNTs nanocomposites were discussed. For comparison purpose, other photocatalysts were also employed in the photodegradation experiment. Thermogravimetric–differential thermal analysis (TG–DTA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and UV–Vis absorption spectra were utilized to characterize the prepared photocatalysts. The results showed that the TiO₂/short MWNTs nanocomposites synthesized with 1% mass ratio of short MWNTs to butyl titanate had the best photoactivity.     

Fabrication of Polyaniline/Graphene/Tb3+ Conductive Composite Material

Polyaniline/graphene/Tb³⁺(PANI/GN/Tb³⁺) composite material was successfully prepared by the method of in-situ polymerization. The morphology of this as-formed composite material has been confirmed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis. SEM images illustrated that the PANI were uniformly deposited on GN nanosheets. PANI/GN/Tb³⁺ composite material exhibited high electrical conductivity than the pristine PANI. What's more, results also demonstrated that the synthesized composite material has found wide promising applications in capacitors. Finally, the conductive mechanism of PANI/GN/rare earth composite is discussed in this paper, the conductivity of nanocomposites offered upgrade first than descending latter tendency with different content of Tb³⁺ ions. The results should be attributed to the special electronic structure and excellent magnetic of rare earth ions, which can influence the polymer chains.     

Fe(3)O(4)@Au/polyaniline multifunctional nanocomposites: their preparation and optical, electrical and magnetic properties

Fe(3)O(4)@Au/polyaniline (PANI) nanocomposites were fabricated by in situ polymerization in the presence of mercaptocarboxylic acid. The mercaptocarboxylic acid was used to introduce hydrogen bonding and/or electrostatic interaction; it acts as a template in the formation of Fe(3)O(4)@Au/PANI nanorods. The morphology and structure of the resulting nanocomposites were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction and x-ray energy dispersion spectroscopy (EDS). It was found that the nanocomposites were rod-like with an average diameter of 153?nm, and they exhibited a core-shell structure. A UV-visible spectrometer, semiconductor parameter analyzer and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) were used to characterize the optical, electrical and magnetic properties of the Fe(3)O(4)@Au/PANI nanocomposites. It was interesting to find that these properties are dependent on the molar ratio of Au to Fe(3)O(4) when the molar ratio of Fe(3)O(4)@Au to PANI is fixed. The magnetic property of the Fe(3)O(4)@Au/PANI nanocomposite is very close to superparamagnetic behavior.     

Polymer brushes on carbon nanotubes by thiol-lactam initiated radical polymerization of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate

Water-soluble polymer brushes with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) as backbones were synthesized by grafting 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) from surface functionalized MWNTs via in situ surface thiol-lactam initiated radical polymerization. MWNTs were functionalized with 2-mercaptoethanol and used as initiators in the polymerization of HEMA in the presence of butyrolactam. FT-IR, XPS, 1H NMR, GPC and TGA were used to determine chemical structure and the grafted polymer quantities of the resulting product. The covalent bonding of PHEMA to the MWNTs dramatically improved the water dispersibility of MWNTs. The average thicknesses of the polymer brushes in the functionalized MWNTs were detected with electron microscopy (SEM and TEM) and images indicated that the nanotubes were coated with polymer layer.     

Preparation of gold/polyaniline/multiwall carbon nanotube nanocomposites and application in ammonia gas detection

Composites of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs), polyaniline (PANI), and gold nanoparticles were prepared by one pot synthesis. Based on the interaction between aniline monomers and MWNTs, aniline molecules were adsorbed and polymerized on the surface of MWNTs. The nanocomposites were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS). The sensors based on Au/PANI/MWNT nanocomposites were tested for on-line monitoring of ammonia gas. The results show that the as-prepared sensors have superior sensitivity, and good repeatability upon repeated exposure to ammonia gas.     

Masterbatch-based multi-walled carbon nanotube filled polypropylene nanocomposites: Assessment of rheological and mechanical properties

Polypropylene (PP)/multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) nanocomposites were prepared by diluting a PP/MWNT masterbatch by melt compounding with a twin screw extruder and prepared nanocomposites were characterized for their rheological, mechanical and morphological properties in terms of MWNT loading. The rheological results showed that the materials experience a fluid–solid transition at the composition of 2 wt.%, beyond which a continuous MWNT network forms throughout the matrix and in turn promotes the reinforcement. The tensile modulus and yield stress of the nanocomposites are substantially increased relative to the neat polypropylene. Nanotube reinforcement thus enhanced the yield stress, while reducing the ductility. The same behavior is observed in flexural tests. Charpy impact resistance of the notched samples increases slightly by the addition of MWNT, while impact resistance for the un-notched samples decreases with the addition of MWNTs. Finally, optimum in mechanical properties was observed at 2 wt.% MWNTs, which is near the rheological percolation threshold. From transmission electron microscopic (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images, it was observed that nanotubes are distributed reasonably uniformly indicating a good dispersion of nanotubes in the PP matrix. These results reveal that, preparation of nanocomposites from masterbatch dilution is an excellent method to obtain well-dispersed CNTs, while limiting the handling difficulties in plastics processing industrial workshops.     

Morphologies and properties of polyurethane/epoxy resin interpenetrating network nanocomposites modified with organoclay

Polyurethane/epoxy resin interpenetrating network nanocomposites containing various contents of organophilic montmorillonite (oM-PU/EP nanocomposites) were prepared by a sequential polymeric technique and an in situ intercalation method. Transmission electronic microscopy and scanning electronic microscopy analysis showed that the interpenetrating process of PU and EP increases the exfoliation degree of organophilic montmorillonite (oMMT), and that oMMT improves the compatibility and phase structure of polyurethane/epoxy resin interpenetrating polymer networks (PU/EP IPNs). Tensile test, differential scanning calorimetry and thermal gravity analysis proved that the mechanical and thermal properties of the oM-PU/EP nanocomposites are superior to those of the pure PU and PU/EP IPNs.     

Synthesis,characterization and dielectric behavior of (ES)-form polyaniline/cerium(III)-nitrate-hexahydrate composites

In this study, morphological, thermal and dielectric properties of chemically synthesized polyaniline (PANI) and its cerium(III)-nitrate-hexahydrate (Ce(NO₃)₃·6H₂O) doped composites with various doping levels were investigated. Characteristic bands of emeraldine salt (ES)-form of PANI was clearly observed in UV–visible (UV–vis) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopies. Thermal analyses carried out by Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) indicated that there was a glass transition at about 70 °C and the doping process increased thermal stability of the polymer. In the surface morphologies examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), various microstructures depending on the doping level were observed. Real dielectric constant exhibited a significant decrease due to the increase in the doping level especially at higher frequencies. Conductivity mechanisms of PANI and its composites were investigated by universal power law as conventional models could not provide a complete picture for all the samples. Dramatic increases up to 45, 35 and 30 times in the conductivity of 10% doped PANI were observed for 300, 350 and 400 K, respectively.