Macroscopic carbon nanotube assemblies: preparation, properties, and potential applications

As classical 1D nanoscale structures, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) possess remarkable mechanical, electrical, thermal, and optical properties. In the past several years, considerable attention has been paid to the use of CNTs as building blocks for novel high-performance materials. In this way, the production of macroscopic architectures based on assembled CNTs with controlled orientation and configurations is an important step towards their application. So far, various forms of macroscale CNT assemblies have been produced, such as 1D CNT fibers, 2D CNT films/sheets, and 3D aligned CNT arrays or foams. These macroarchitectures, depending on the manner in which they are assembled, display a variety of fascinating features that cannot be achieved using conventional materials. This review provides an overview of various macroscopic CNT assemblies, with a focus on their preparation and mechanical properties as well as their potential applications in practical fields.     

一步法制备聚氨酯/碳纳米管复合泡沫材料及其性能

采用球磨法将碳纳米管分散到聚醚三元醇中,以水为发泡剂,采用一步法原位聚合制备了聚氨酯(PU)/碳纳米管(CNTs)复合泡沫材料,研究了发泡剂水的添加量和碳纳米管的含量对复合材料密度和性能的影响.结果表明,随水添加量的增加,泡沫材料的密度、压缩模量、拉伸模量以及断裂伸长率呈下降的趋势;碳纳米管的加入大幅度提高了材料的压缩...     

Design of Aligned Carbon Nanotubes Structures Using Structural Mechanics Modeling <br/>Part 1: Theory and Individual Carbon Nanotube Modeling

Aligned carbon nanotubes structures are emerging new materials that have demonstrated superior mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties and have the huge potential for a wide range of applications. In contrast with traditional materials whose microstructures are relatively "fixed", the aligned carbon nanotube materials have highly "tunable" structures. Therefore, it is crucial to have a rational strategy to design and evaluate the architectures and geometric factors to help process the optimal nanotube materials. Astructural mechanics based computational modeling is used for designing the aligned carbon nanotubes structures. Part 1 of the papers presents the theory of the computational method as well as the design and modeling of individual nanotube. As the fundamental building block of the aligned nanotube structures, the variations of geometric parameters of the individual nanotube on its mechanical properties are thoroughly examined.     

Pozzolanic hardened three-phase-foams

The field of lightweight materials is becoming more and more important due to the desire for material and cost savings with a simultaneous combination of thermal insulation and sustainability. It is of specific interest to obtain materials in a low density range of 60–150 kg/m³ with high stability comparable to heavier weight materials currently in use, whilst under the constraint of reducing the content of inorganic binders. A new approach is the chemical treatment of foams based on three phases. The third phase consists of pozzolanic active nanomaterials, which can be varied and surface treated. Aided by chemical treatment of the three-phase-foams, a hardening of the foams has been achieved. Results based on studies of the microstructure and phase formation will be illustrated and discussed.     

碳纳米管合成进展

自碳纳米管发现以来,其独特的结构与性能以及潜在的应用前景受到广泛的关注.已发展了多种合成技术.从原料、催化、工艺条件、产物形态等方面对重要的合成技术进行了系统的评述,介绍了国内外合成方面的研究现状和面临的挑战,同时提出了一些关于大量有效合成碳纳米管的建议.     

碳纳米管的特性及其高性能的复合材料

碳纳米管具有超强的力学性能、极高的纵横比和独特的导电特性,是制备复合材料的理想形式。评述了目前碳纳米管复合材料的制备及其应用研究的动态。用化学镀方法制备的镍基碳纳米管复合镀层比传统的复合镀层具有更高的耐磨性能,结构为非晶态。讨论了复合镀制备金属基碳纳米管复合镀层的优越性及应用。用原位聚合法合成了导电聚苯胺-碳纳米管的复合材料,可以作为电池和电化学超级电容器的电极材料。      

Chemically functionalized carbon nanotubes

Since their discovery, carbon nanotubes have attracted the attention of many a scientist around the world. This extraordinary interest stems from their outstanding structural, mechanical, and electronic properties. In fact, apart from being the best and most easily available one-dimensional (1D) model system, carbon nanotubes show strong application potential in electronics, scanning probe microscopy, chemical and biological sensing, reinforced composite materials, and in many more areas. While some of the proposed applications remain still a far-off dream, others are close to technical realization. Recent advances in the development of reliable methods for the chemical functionalization of the nanotubes provide an additional impetus towards extending the scope of their application spectrum. In particular, covalent modification schemes allow persistent alteration of the electronic properties of the tubes, as well as to chemically tailor their surface properties, whereby new functions can be implemented that cannot otherwise be acquired by pristine nanotubes.     

Multiscale fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites incorporating carbon nanotubes: A review

This article reviews recent literature on hierarchical thermoplastic-based composites that simultaneously incorporate carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and conventional microscale fibers, and discusses the structure–property relationships of the resulting hybrids. The mixing of multiple and multiscale constituents enables the preparation of materials with new or improved properties due to synergistic effects. By exploiting the outstanding mechanical, thermal and electrical properties of CNTs, a new generation of multifunctional high-performance composites suitable for a wide variety of applications can be developed.     

Si元素对碳纳米管增强铝基复合泡沫组织与性能的影响

针对金属基复合材料,添加合金元素是提升其综合性能的有效途径.本文通过高能球磨和填加造孔剂法,制备了添加Si元素的碳纳米管(CNTs)增强铝基(CNTs/Al-Si)复合泡沫,通过准静态压缩实验测试其压缩性能和吸能性能,进一步研究烧结温度和不同Si元素含量对CNTs/Al-Si复合泡沫微观组织、压缩性能和吸能性能的影响,...     

硼碳氮纳米管生长机理的研究

硼碳氮纳米管具有许多比碳纳米管更好的性质,因而成为当今世界研究的热门材料之一.用汽-液-固生长模型解释了硼碳氮纳米管的生长机理,并用化学键能分析了其C/BN相分离及结构的稳定性,指出了C和BN各自的能量及化学稳定决定B,C和N三种元素的分布情况.最后阐述了影响纳米管生长的几个主要因素.     

Carbon/Silicon Heterojunction Solar Cells: State of the Art and Prospects

In the last few decades, advances and breakthroughs of carbon materials have been witnessed in both scientific fundamentals and potential applications. The combination of carbon materials with traditional silicon semiconductors to fabricate solar cells has been a promising field of carbon science. The power conversion efficiency has reached 15–17% with an astonishing speed, and the diversity of systems stimulates interest in further research. Here, the historical development and state‐of‐the‐art carbon/silicon heterojunction solar cells are covered. Firstly, the basic concept and mechanism of carbon/silicon solar cells are introduced with a specific focus on solar cells assembled with carbon nanotubes and graphene due to their unique structures and properties. Then, several key technologies with special electrical and optical designs are introduced to improve the cell performance, such as chemical doping, interface passivation, anti‐reflection coatings, and textured surfaces. Finally, potential pathways and opportunities based on the carbon/silicon heterojunction are envisaged. The aspects discussed here may enable researchers to better understand the photovoltaic effect of carbon/silicon heterojunctions and to optimize the design of graphene‐based photodevices for a wide range of applications.     

Advanced Carbon for Flexible and Wearable Electronics

Flexible and wearable electronics are attracting wide attention due to their potential applications in wearable human health monitoring and care systems. Carbon materials have combined superiorities such as good electrical conductivity, intrinsic and structural flexibility, light weight, high chemical and thermal stability, ease of chemical functionalization, as well as potential mass production, enabling them to be promising candidate materials for flexible and wearable electronics. Consequently, great efforts are devoted to the controlled fabrication of carbon materials with rationally designed structures for applications in next‐generation electronics. Herein, the latest advances in the rational design and controlled fabrication of carbon materials toward applications in flexible and wearable electronics are reviewed. Various carbon materials (carbon nanotubes, graphene, natural‐biomaterial‐derived carbon, etc.) with controlled micro/nanostructures and designed macroscopic morphologies for high‐performance flexible electronics are introduced. The fabrication strategies, working mechanism, performance, and applications of carbon‐based flexible devices are reviewed and discussed, including strain/pressure sensors, temperature/humidity sensors, electrochemical sensors, flexible conductive electrodes/wires, and flexible power devices. Furthermore, the integration of multiple devices toward multifunctional wearable systems is briefly reviewed. Finally, the existing challenges and future opportunities in this field are summarized.     

Carbon nanotubes as liquid crystals

Carbon nanotubes are the best of known materials with a combination of excellent mechanical, electronic, and thermal properties. To fully exploit individual nanotube properties for various applications, the grand challenge is to fabricate macroscopic ordered nanotube assemblies. Liquid-crystalline behavior of the nanotubes provides a unique opportunity toward reaching this challenge. In this Review, the recent developments in this area are critically reviewed by discussing the strategies for fabricating liquid-crystalline phases, addressing the solution properties of liquid-crystalline suspensions, and exploiting the practical techniques of liquid-crystal routes to prepare macroscopic nanotube fibers and films.     

Functional composite materials based on chemically converted graphene

Graphene, a one-atom layer of graphite, possesses a unique two-dimensional structure and excellent mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties. Thus, it has been regarded as an important component for making various functional composite materials. Graphene can be prepared through physical, chemical and electrochemical approaches. Among them, chemical methods were tested to be effective for producing chemically converted graphene (CCG) from various precursors (such as graphite, carbon nanotubes, and polymers) in large scale and at low costs. Therefore, CCG is more suitable for synthesizing high-performance graphene based composites. In this progress report, we review the recent advancements in the studies of the composites of CCG and small molecules, polymers, inorganic nanoparticles or other carbon nanomaterials. The methodology for preparing CCG and its composites has been summarized. The applications of CCG-based functional composite materials are also discussed.     

Covalent Surface Chemistry of Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes

In this review article, we explore covalent chemical strategies for the functionalization of carbon‐nanotube surfaces. In recent years, nanotubes have been treated as chemical reagents (be it inorganic or organic) in their own right. Indeed, from their inherent structure, one can view nanotubes as sterically bulky, π‐conjugated ligands, or conversely as electron‐deficient alkenes. Hence, herein we seek to understand, from a structural perspective, the breadth and types of reactions single‐walled nanotubes (SWNTs) can undergo in solution phase, not only at the ends and defect sites but also along the sidewalls. Controllable chemical functionalization suggests that the unique electronic and mechanical properties of SWNTs can be tailored in a determinable manner. Moreover, prevailing themes in nanotube functionalization have been involved with dissolution of tubes.     

A review: Starch-based composite foams

The large quantities of the petroleum-based foam materials used have raised concern due to their negative effects on the environment, predominantly single-use articles in packaging applications. Thus, considerable efforts have been put forth to develop environmentally friendly alternatives and, in particular, starch foams. Many techniques including extrusion, hot-mold baking/compression, microwave heating, freeze-drying/solvent exchange, and supercritical fluid extrusion can be used to produce starch foams with different cellular structures and properties. Starch by itself is, however, rather weak and water sensitive. To improve microstructure, mechanical and thermal properties, moldability, water resistance, lightness and other properties of starch-based foams, many approaches, e.g., chemical modification of starches, blending with various biodegradable polymers, incorporation of natural fibers, and addition of nanofillers, have been attempted and are intensively reviewed in this article.     

球磨对碳纳米管增强泡沫铝基复合材料压缩与吸能性能的影响

因碳纳米管（CNTs）具有优异的性能,被认为是金属基复合材料理想的增强体,因此如何制备得到CNTs增强体均匀分散的金属基复合材料一直是本领域的研究热点。本文通过原位化学气相沉积（CVD）、短时球磨和填加造孔剂的工艺成功制备了CNTs增强的泡沫铝基复合材料,着重研究了球磨过程对复合泡沫铝的微观形貌、压缩性能和吸能性能的影响规律。结果表明,随着球磨时间的延长,CNTs的分散性提高并逐步嵌入铝基体中,使复合泡沫铝的组织均匀性得到改善。相对于未球磨的含CNTs 3.0wt%的复合泡沫材料,当球磨时间增加至90 min时,复合泡沫铝的孔壁硬度、屈服强度和吸能能力分别提高了67%、126%和343%。     

碳纳米管表面活性化及其在生物医药中的应用

综合了国内外文献资料,介绍了碳纳米管的表面处理的方法,对不同处理方法对碳纳米管带来的物理化学变化进行了综述;重点介绍了处理后的碳纳米管在生物医药领域的应用;最后对碳纳米管表面活化方法选择进行了总结.     

Application of carbon nanotube in wireless sensor network to monitor carbon dioxide

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are allotropes of carbon with a cylindrical nanostructure. Over the years, new discoveries have led to new applications, often taking advantage of their unique electrical properties, extraordinary strength and efficiency in heat conduction. Since industrialisation, human activities have resulted in steadily increasing concentrations of the greenhouse gases. Excess amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in living environment is toxic and unsuitable for human consumption. Thus, a need exists for accurate, inexpensive, long-term monitoring of environmental contaminants using sensors that can be operated on site. Over the past decade, many wireless sensor network (WSN)-based monitoring applications have been proposed. This article reviews the developments of sensing elements to monitor CO₂ in the environment. The cylindrical carbon molecules have novel properties that make them potentially useful in many applications in nanotechnology, electronics, optics and other fields of materials science, as well as potential sensing element in wireless sensor technology. They exhibit extraordinary strength and unique electrical properties, and are efficient thermal conductors. The unique properties of CNT makes it a potential sensing element in the WSN technology.     

Carbon‐Nanotube‐Based Thermoelectric Materials and Devices

Conversion of waste heat to voltage has the potential to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of a number of critical energy sectors, such as the transportation and electricity‐generation sectors, and manufacturing processes. Thermal energy is also an abundant low‐flux source that can be harnessed to power portable/wearable electronic devices and critical components in remote off‐grid locations. As such, a number of different inorganic and organic materials are being explored for their potential in thermoelectric‐energy‐harvesting devices. Carbon‐based thermoelectric materials are particularly attractive due to their use of nontoxic, abundant source‐materials, their amenability to high‐throughput solution‐phase fabrication routes, and the high specific energy (i.e., W g^?1) enabled by their low mass. Single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) represent a unique 1D carbon allotrope with structural, electrical, and thermal properties that enable efficient thermoelectric‐energy conversion. Here, the progress made toward understanding the fundamental thermoelectric properties of SWCNTs, nanotube‐based composites, and thermoelectric devices prepared from these materials is reviewed in detail. This progress illuminates the tremendous potential that carbon‐nanotube‐based materials and composites have for producing high‐performance next‐generation devices for thermoelectric‐energy harvesting.