Increasing the Tensile Property of Unidirectional Carbon/Carbon Composites by Grafting Carbon Nanotubes onto Carbon Fibers by Electrophoretic Deposition

Although in-situ growing carbon nanotubes(CNTs) on carbon fibers could greatly increase the matrix-dominated mechanical properties of carbon/carbon composites(C/Cs),it always decreased the tensile strength of carbon fibers.In this work,CNTs were introduced into unidirectional carbon fiber(CF) preforms by electrophoretic deposition(EPD) and they were used to reinforce C/Cs.Effects of the content of CNTs introduced by EPD on tensile property of unidirectional C/Cs were investigated.Results demonstrated that EPD could be used as a simple and efficient method to fabricate carbon nanotube reinforced C/Cs(CNT—C/Cs) with excellent tensile strength,which pays a meaningful way to maximize the global performance of CNT—C/Cs.     

Covalently-Bonded “Onion Type” Double Fullerenic Carbon Cages

Three “onion type” double carbon cages (consisting of an inner sp³-hybridized C₆₀ buckminsterfullerene skeleton and an outer larger carbon cage with icosahedral symmetry, with covalent bonds between the carbon atoms of the 5-membered rings) are described and their strain energies are discussed: (i) when the outer cage is a C₁₂₀ cage derived from buckminsterfullerene by replacing each bond between two six-membered rings by an acetylenic group, the strain is smallest.; (ii) when the same derivation concerns each bond between 5- and 6-membered rings leading to a C₁₈₀ outer cage, the strain is largest.; (iii) when the outer cage is C₁₈₀ with benzenoid rings, the strain is intermediate.     

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.