Formation of graphitic rods in carbon/carbon composites reinforced with carbon nanotubes

The formation of graphitic rods with a carbon nanotube (CNT) in the center was observed in CNT-reinforced phenolic resin-based carbon/carbon composites heat treated at 2000 °C. TEM characterization indicated that the carbon surrounding the CNT has a much better degree of graphitization compared to the carbon in most of the matrix. The formation temperature (2000 °C) of the graphitic rod is lower than for stress graphitization and normal graphitization of phenolic resin.     

Study of interactions between single-wall carbon nanotubes and surfactant using molecular simulations

Carbon nanotubes (CNT) exhibit interesting electrical and mechanical properties. However, the insolubility of CNT in either water or organic solvents, poses serious obstacles to their future applications. The main problems are strong van der Waals attractive interactions and CNT tendency to form bundles which are very difficult to disrupt. In this study, molecular dynamics and quantum mechanics simulations were conducted to investigate the interactions between a carbonaceous nanoparticle and surfactants. It was found that a benzoic ring in the surfactant molecule improves its binding to the graphitic surface. It was shown that a structure of two stacked graphene layers causes a significant straightening of the aliphatic tail of the surfactant molecule adsorbed on the outer graphene layer. Binding energy calculations showed the effect of surfactant structure and CNT diameter on their interaction intensity.     

Role of molecular interactions and structural defects in the efficient fluorescence quenching by carbon nanotubes

Fluorescence quenching effect of single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on three most common fluorophores fluorescein, rhodamine 6G and quinine sulphate has been studied and compared. Comparative studies of quenching efficiency shows that SWCNTs are more efficient fluorescence quencher than the MWCNTs. Nature of Stern–Volmer plot was found to be highly non-linear indicating combined effect of dynamic and static quenching. The contribution of dynamic quenching component was assessed through the fluorescence lifetime measurements. Studies on vacuum annealed SWCNTs with low defect contents suggest that structural defects primarily contribute to the large quenching. Fluorescence quenching was found to be dominant even in the cases where adsorption was low implying that surface adsorption play a minor role in the quenching, except for rhodamine 6G. Adsorption isotherms have been studied using Langmuir and Freundlich models. Freundlich model was found to be closer in behaviour implying a multilayer adsorption of molecules on the surface. The contributions of metal nanoparticles and carbon impurities present in different allotropic forms to the fluorescence quenching were also assessed. We speculate that defect mediated nonradiative energy transfer through dipole–dipole coupling may be the dominant mechanism of high efficiency quenching by SWCNTs.     

Elucidating the interactions between carbon nanotubes and carbon black with styrene butadiene rubber

The reinforcement mechanism of carbon nanotubes (CNT) on styrene butadiene rubber is studied through dynamic and swelling tests. Compounds containing carbon black (CB) and an unfilled one were prepared for comparison purposes. The dynamic properties are interpreted through the Maier-Göritz model to distinguish the contributions of stable and unstable crosslinks to the storage modulus, finding that the unstable ones become more relevant in samples containing a CNT concentration higher than 5 phr. In addition, the crosslinks density estimated by swelling and the stable contribution obtained with dynamical properties present the same tendency with the CNT amount. The former presents lower values, which can be explained considering that only stable crosslinks remain in the equilibrium-swollen state, while in the second one both stable and unstable are considered. In addition, differences in the filler-polymer interaction mechanisms are observed according to the morphology and aspect ratio of CNT in contrast to CB.     

Electrooxidation of DNA at glassy carbon electrodes modified with multiwall carbon nanotubes dispersed in polyethylenimine

This work reports the electrochemical response of the complex between dsDNA and PEI formed in solution and at the surface of glassy carbon electrodes (GCE) modified with a dispersion of multi-walled carbon nanotubes in polyethylenimine (CNT-PEI). Scanning Electron Microscopy and Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy demonstrate that the dispersion covers the whole surface of the electrode although there are areas with higher density of CNT and, consequently, with higher electrochemical reactivity. The adsorption of DNA at GCE/CNT-PEI is fast and it is mainly driven by electrostatic forces. A clear oxidation signal is obtained either for dsDNA or a heterooligonucleotide of 21 bases (oligoY) at potentials smaller than those for the oxidation at bare GCE. The comparison of the behavior of DNA before and after thermal treatment demonstrated that the electrochemical response highly depends on the 3D structure of the nucleic acid.     

Study of nimesulide and its determination using multiwalled carbon nanotubes modified glassy carbon electrodes

A new method for the determination of nimesulide was established based on the multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) modified glassy carbon electrode (MWCNTs/GCE). In 0.2 M PBS (pH 6.6) buffer solution, the MWCNTs/GCE showed a remarkable catalytic and enhancement effect on reduction of the nimesulide. The reduction peak potential of nimesulide shifted positively from −0.665 V at bare GCE to −0.553 V at MWCNTs/GCE, and the sensitivity increased ca. 7 times. A linear dynamic range of 3.2 × 10⁻⁷-6.5 × 10⁻⁵ M (R = 0.9992) with a detection limit of 1.6 × 10⁻⁷ M was obtained. The electrochemical behaviors of nimesulide were studied and electron-transfer coefficient (α = 0.45), proton number (X = 1) and electron-transfer number (n = 2) have been determined. This method has been used to determine the content of nimesulide in medical tablets. The recovery was determined to be 93.2-106.2% by means of standard addition method. Compared with UV-vis spectrometry, the method was not remarkable difference.     

Hematoxylin multi-wall carbon nanotubes modified glassy carbon electrode for electrocatalytic oxidation of hydrazine

A new hydrazine sensor has been fabricated by immobilizing hematoxylin at the surface of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWCNT). The adsorbed thin films of hematoxylin on the MWCNT modified GCE show one pair of peaks with surface confined characteristics. The hematoxylin MWCNT (HMWCNT) modified GCE shows highly catalytic activity toward hydrazine electro-oxidation. The results show that the peak potential of hydrazine at HMWCNT modified GCE surface shifted by about 167 and 255 mV toward negative values compared with that at an MWCNT and activated modified GCE surface, respectively. In addition, at HMWCNT modified electrode surface remarkably improvement the sensitivity of determination of hydrazine. The kinetic parameters, such as the electron transfer coefficient, α, and the standard heterogeneous rate constant, k⁰, for oxidation of hydrazine at the HMWCNT modified GCE were determined and also is shown that the heterogeneous rate constant, k′, is strongly potential dependent. The overall number of electron involved in the catalytic oxidation of hydrazine and the number of electrons involved in the rate-determining steps are 2 and 1, respectively. The amperometric detection of hydrazine is carried out at 220 mV in 0.1 M phosphate buffer solution (pH 7) with linear response range 2.0-122.8 μM hydrazine, detection limit of 0.68 μM and sensitivity of 0.0208 μA μM⁻¹. Finally the amperometric response for hydrazine determination is reproducible, fast and extremely stable, with no loss in sensitivity over a continual 400 s operation.     

基于多壁碳纳米管修饰电极的磺胺的电化学检测

运用线性扫描伏安法(LSV)研究了磺胺(SA)在多壁碳纳米管修饰电极(MWNTs/GCE)上的电化学行为,探讨并确定了修饰体积和浓度、支持基质种类、最佳pH值、富集电位和时间等磺胺的最佳检测条件。结果表明,在pH=8.0的Na2HPO4-NaH2PO4缓冲体系中,磺胺在多壁碳纳米管修饰电极上检测到一个不可逆的氧化峰,且在1.0×10-5~2.0×10-4mol/L浓度范围内,磺胺氧化峰电流与其浓度呈现良好的线性关系,线性回归方程为Ip(μA)=0.493 6×C(μmol/L)+9.984 1,相关系数为R=0.996 3,检测下限为8.0×10-6mol/L,平行测定的相对误差(RSD)小于1.463%(n=8),样品平均加标回收率为99.21%~100.93%。     

基于多壁碳纳米管修饰电极的磺胺的电化学检测

运用线性扫描伏安法(LSV)研究了磺胺(SA)在多壁碳纳米管修饰电极(MWNTs/GCE)上的电化学行为,探讨并确定了修饰体积和浓度、支持基质种类、最佳pH值、富集电位和时间等磺胺的最佳检测条件。结果表明,在pH=8.0的Na2HPO4-NaH2PO4缓冲体系中,磺胺在多壁碳纳米管修饰电极上检测到一个不可逆的氧化峰,且在1.0×10-5².0×10-4mol/L浓度范围内,磺胺氧化峰电流与其浓度呈现良好的线性关系,线性回归方程为Ip(μA)=0.493 6×C(μmol/L)+9.984 1,相关系数为R=0.996 3,检测下限为8.0×10-6mol/L,平行测定的相对误差(RSD)小于1.463%(n=8),样品平均加标回收率为99.21%2.0×10-4mol/L浓度范围内,磺胺氧化峰电流与其浓度呈现良好的线性关系,线性回归方程为Ip(μA)=0.493 6×C(μmol/L)+9.984 1,相关系数为R=0.996 3,检测下限为8.0×10-6mol/L,平行测定的相对误差(RSD)小于1.463%(n=8),样品平均加标回收率为99.21%¹00.93%。     

Non-covalent interactions between carbon nanotubes and conjugated polymers

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are interest to many different disciplines including chemistry, physics, biology, material science and engineering because of their unique properties and potential applications in various areas spanning from optoelectronics to biotechnology. However, one of the drawbacks associated with these materials is their insolubility which limits their wide accessibility for many applications. Various approaches have been adopted to circumvent this problem including modification of carbon nanotube surfaces by non-covalent and covalent attachments of solubilizing groups. Covalent approach modification may alter the intrinsic properties of carbon nanotubes and, in turn make them undesirable for many applications. On the other hand, a non-covalent approach helps to improve the solubility of CNTs while preserving their intrinsic properties. Among many non-covalent modifiers of CNTs, conjugated polymers are receiving increasing attention and highly appealing because of a number of reasons. To this end, the aim of this feature article is to review the recent results on the conjugated polymer-based non-covalent functionalization of CNTs with an emphasis on the effect of conjugated polymers in the dispersibility/solubility, optical, thermal and mechanical properties of carbon nanotubes as well as their usage in the purification and isolation of a specific single-walled nanotube from the mixture of the various tubes.     

Electrocatalytic reduction of dioxygen by cobalt porphyrin-modified glassy carbon electrode with single-walled carbon nanotubes and nafion in aqueous solutions

Cobalt porphyrin (CoP)-modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) with single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and Nafion demonstrated a higher electrocatalytic activity for the reduction of dioxygen in 0.1 M H₂SO₄ solution. Cyclic and hydrodynamic voltammetry at the CoP-SWNTs/GCE-modified electrodes in O₂-saturated aqueous solutions was used to study the electrocatalytic pathway. Compared with the CoP/GCE-modified electrodes, the reduction potential of dioxygen at the CoP-SWNTs/GCE-modified electrodes was shifted to the positive direction and the limiting current was greatly increased. Especially, the Co(TMPP)-SWNTs/GCE-modified electrode was catalyzed effectively by the 4e⁻ reduction of dioxygen to water, because hydrodynamic voltammetry revealed the transference of approximately four electrons for dioxygen reduction and the minimal generation of hydrogen peroxide in the process of dioxygen reduction.     

Deposition of a thin film of carbon nanotubes onto a glassy carbon electrode by electropolymerization

A novel and easy route for the deposition of a thin film of carbon nanotubes onto an electrode surface by electropolymerization is described. Multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were “dissolved” in aqueous alizarin red S (ARS, 3,4-dihydroxy-9,10-dioxo-2-anthracenesulfonic acid, sodium salt) solution, and a very stable and well-distributed aqueous MWNTs–ARS solution was obtained. A thin film of MWNTs–ARS was successfully deposited onto the electrode surface by an in situ electropolymerization in aqueous MWNTs–ARS solution. The MWNTs–ARS thin film was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, UV–Vis spectroscopy and electrochemical techniques.     

Easy synthesis of carbon nanotubes with polypyrrole nanotubes as the carbon precursor

An easy synthesis route for carbon nanotubes with polypyrrole nanotubes as a carbon precursor has been developed. Polypyrrole nanotubes were fabricated via a reactive self-degraded template method. Carbon nanotubes were further obtained by pyrolysis of the polypyrrole nanotube at 900 °C under a nitrogen atmosphere. The resultant carbon nanotube structure was found to be amorphous carbon on the basis of XRD, Raman spectra and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) studies.     

液晶态高分子量PBO的合成工艺及性能研究

通过改进的三氯苯合成路线合成高纯度的4,6—二氨基间苯二酚盐酸盐,使用红外光谱和核磁共振氢谱对得到的产物进行了表征分析,证明得到了纯度很高的4,6—二氨基间苯二酚盐酸盐。使用合成的单体聚合得到了高分子量的聚对苯撑苯并二噁唑(PBO)。在聚合过程中观察到了明显的爬杆现象和搅拌乳光。对得到的聚合物进行推膜,并进行了红外光谱和热失重法分析,证明得到了热稳定性高的高分子量PBO。     

Electrochemical sensors for hemoglobin and myoglobin detection based on methylene blue-multiwalled carbon nanotubes nanohybrid-modified glassy carbon electrode

An effective electrochemical sensors for hemoglobin (Hb) and myoglobin (Mb) detection was firstly developed using a simple procedure of self-assembled methylene blue-multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MB-MWNTs) nanohybrid modified on glassy carbon electrode without using any enzymes immobilization. The direct electrochemical and electrocatalytic behaviors of the modified electrode were studied using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and flow injection analysis (FIA) with amperometry. The performance of the sensor was investigated and optimized and the system was evaluated by monitoring Hb and Mb concentrations. The developed MB-MWNTs nanohybrid modified electrode showed excellent electrocatalytic activity for reduction of Hb and Mb with good stability, sensitivity and reproducibility (RSD = 3.05% and 4.5% for 50 successive injections of Hb and Mb, respectively). Under optimal conditions, the catalytic currents are linearly proportional to the concentrations of Hb and Mb in the wide range from 5 nM to 2 μM and 0.1 to 3 μM, and the corresponding detection limits are 1.5 nM and 20 nM (S/N = 3), respectively. This approach provides improved detection limit over other previous works and may provide a novel and efficient platform for the fabrication of sensors for other heme proteins.     

Nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes synthesized with carbon nanotubes as catalyst

Nitrogen-doped carbon (CN_x) nanotubes were synthesized with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as catalyst by detonation-assisted chemical vapor deposition. CN_x nanotubes exhibited compartmentalized bamboo-like structure. Electron energy loss spectroscopy and elemental mapping studies indicated that the synthesized tubes contained high concentration of nitrogen (ca. 17.3 at.%), inhomogeneously distributed with an enrichment of nitrogen within the compartments. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis revealed the presence of pyridine-like N and graphitic N incorporated into the graphitic network. The catalytic activity of CNTs for CN_x nanotube growth was ascribed to the nanocurvature and opening edges of CNT tips, which adsorbed C_n/CN species and assembled them into CN_x nanotubes.     

Voltammetric determination of bisoprolol fumarate in pharmaceutical formulations and urine using single-wall carbon nanotubes modified glassy carbon electrode

The electrochemistry of bisoprolol fumarate (BF) has been investigated by differential pulse voltammetry at a single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The prepared electrode showed an excellent electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of BF leading to a marked improvement in sensitivity as compared to bare glassy carbon electrode where electrochemical activity for the analyte cannot be observed. The SWNTs-modified GCE exhibited a sharp anodic peak at a potential of ∼950 mV for the oxidation of BF. Under optimum conditions linear calibration curve was obtained over the BF concentration range 0.01-0.1 mM in 0.5 M phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.2) with a correlation coefficient of 0.9789 and detection limit of 8.27 × 10⁻⁷ M. The modified electrode has been applied for the drug determination in human urine with no prior extraction and in commercial tablets. The proposed method has also been validated.     

Reaction of glassy carbon with oxygen

A glassy carbon, GC-30, from Tokai Electrode Manufacturing Co., Ltd. has been reacted in O₂ between 750 and 850°C. At low carbon burn-offs the reaction has an activation energy of 63 ± 3 kcal/mole. Changes in dimensions of samples as a function of burn-off at 900°C were studied. Dimensional changes are compared with those resulting from the oxidation of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite. For comparable sample shapes, glassy carbon is more reactive than highly oriented pyrolytic graphite.