单壁碳纳米管的提纯方法

采用温控电弧炉，在600℃下，使用Fe／Ni/Mg催化剂大量制备了单壁碳纳米管。用两步纯化方法对单壁纳米管进行提纯：首先，原始的单壁碳纳米管在500℃，空气中加热30min；接着用37％的盐酸浸泡加热后的样品72h，水洗过滤后烘干,通过SEM、TGA、HRTEM和激光拉曼表征，纯化后单壁碳纳米管的纯度可高达95％，其直径范围为：1.24-1.38nm。     

单壁碳纳米管束的排布

流体排布法是实现碳纳米管定向排列的一种简单的方法。采用流体排布法在具有浸润性图案化的基底上成功地对单壁碳纳米管(SWNTs)束进行了水平方向上的排布。将SWNTs悬浮液滴入光刻胶制成的微通道中,在流体剪切力作用下,弯曲的SWNTs在一定程度上会被拉伸并且平行地排列在纳米级宽度的微通道中。将排列好的SWNTs阵列转移到一些不同间距的金电极对上面,制作成碳纳米管场效应晶体管(CNTFET)。CNTFET的电性能测试结果表明,制备的SWNTs束可以制造出不同电极间距同时具有良好电性能的CNTFET。     

Functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes for the improved solubilization and delivery of curcumin

The surface modification of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) can enhance their solubility and stability in water and biological systems. The present study demonstrated the application of the functionalized SWCNTs (f-SWCNTs) as drug-delivery vehicles. In this study, f-SWCNTs were functionalized with one of four different chemical groups for the delivery of curcumin to splenic lymphocytes. Since free curcumin can modulate the proliferation of splenic lymphocytes, we compared the abilities of different f-SWCNTs for the delivery of water-insoluble curcumin to inhibit cell proliferation, which were stimulated with concanavalin A (Con A) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The results showed that curcumin can be loaded onto the f-SWCNTs surface through π?π stacking with a loading capacity of 235–327 mg/g (curcumin/f-SWCNTs). The f-SWCNTs-curcumin complexes display considerable cell proliferation inhibition efficacy when compared with free curcumin diluted in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Furthermore, curcumin loaded onto SWCNTs functionalized with poly(ethylene glycol) (SW-PEG) showed good dispersion and stability in water, confirming the excellent biocompatibility of SW-PEG as a drug carrier.     

Odako growth of dense arrays of single-walled carbon nanotubes attached to carbon surfaces

A novel process is demonstrated whereby dense arrays of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) are grown directly at the interface of a carbon material or carbon fiber. This growth process combines the concepts of SWNT tip growth and alumina-supported SWNT base growth to yield what we refer to as “odako” growth. In odako growth, an alumina flake detaches from the carbon surface and supports catalytic growth of dense SWNT arrays at the tip, leaving a direct interface between the carbon surface and the dense SWNT arrays. In addition to being a new and novel form of SWNT array growth, this technique provides a route toward future development of many important applications for dense aligned SWNT arrays. Electronic Supplementary Material  Supplementary material is available for this article at and is accessible for authorized users. This article is published with open access at Springerlink.com     

Investigation of temperature effect on the mechanical properties of single-walled carbon nanotubes

A temperature-related higher-order gradient continuum theory is proposed for predicting the mechanical properties of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) at various temperatures. It is found that the axial elastic moduli of zigzag (21, 0), armchair (12, 12) and chiral (15, 9) SWCNTs with similar radii approach 0.7 TPa when T = 0 K, but decline slightly on different slopes. These results indicate that the temperature effect influences the axial Young moduli of zigzag SWCNTs less than those of the other types. Moreover, the parameters λ₁ and λ₂ corresponding to the uniform longitudinal and circumferential stretches at different temperatures are also examined, and the results show that with an increasing temperature, all SWCNTs are stretched in the longitudinal direction, while in the circumferential direction, only the zigzag SWCNTs are stretched, whereas the others are compressed.     

用气相流动催化热解法合成单壁碳纳米管

以正硅酸乙酯(TEOS)为前驱体,二茂铁为催化剂前驱体,利用气相流动催化热解法在850～1160℃连续合成了单壁碳纳米管(SWNTs)．在此过程中,以由TEOS分解得到的二氧化硅颗粒和二茂铁分解得到的铁颗粒在气流中直接形成的复合粒于作为催化剂,二氧化硅作为铁颗粒的载体．电于显微镜和激光拉曼光谱的观测和分析表明,在所得到的产物中SWNTs的含量约为10％,其直径为1～2nm。     

A simple method of producing single-walled carbon nanotubes from a natural precursor: Eucalyptus oil

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) have been synthesized by catalytic decomposition of eucalyptus oil, on a high silica-zeolite support impregnated with Fe/Co catalyst at 850 °C by the spray pyrolysis method. Catalyst with 5 wt.% (molar ratio of Co:Fe = 1:1), impregnated in zeolite was suitable for effective formation of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). As-grown CNTs were characterized by SEM, TEM and Raman spectroscopy. Raman spectroscopy reveals that as-grown CNTs are well graphitized. Raman spectroscopy also reveals that the as-prepared SWNTs have a diameter of about 0.79-1.71 nm.     

Preparation and investigation on properties of lysozyme chemically bonded to single-walled carbon nanotubes

The purpose of this research is the preparation of a lysozyme-single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) conjugate and investigation of the effect of conjugation on the structure and function of lysozyme. At first, SWCNTs were functionalised by oxygen and lysozyme was coupled to the SWCNTs by carbodiimide method. The high chemical stability of conjugation was purposed for the SWCNTs conjugated enzyme as approved by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images, agarose gel electrophoresis and X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns. The degree of conjugation was determined by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) process. The results showed no significant differences between the XRD patterns of the native lysozyme and conjugated lysozyme–SWCNTs and these indicated excellent capacity of the SWCNTs to conjugated enzyme. The gel electrophoresis studies and TEM image confirmed the covalent attachment of the enzyme to the functionalised SWCNTs. These results revealed that the enzyme retain a high fraction of their native structure and activity upon attachment to SWCNTs. Therefore, this conjugated protein represents novel preparations that make it an attractive choice as a natural antimicrobial agent.     

Catalyst effect on the preparation of single-walled carbon nanotubes by a modified arc discharge

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were prepared by a modified arc discharge furnace using 500?Torr helium as buffer gas at 600?°C. The effect of the catalyst type on the production of SWCNTs was studied by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. The experimental results indicated that the catalyst composition plays an important role in the production rate and purity of the SWCNTs product. Fe-Ni-Mg and Co-Ni powder catalysts demonstrated excellent catalytic effect at a catalyst content of 3?wt%. The soot production rate was up to 15?g/hr and the mean diameter of SWCNTs was about 1.3?nm.     

Study of the ability to field emission from diamond-like carbon layers and carbon nanotubes

The aim of this work was to study the relationship between parameters of the electron field emission and the film deposition method. In this study two methods were applied: classical radio frequency plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition (RF PACVD) to produce diamond-like carbon (DLC) layers and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) to produce carbon nanotubes (CNT). DLC layers were grown on n-type silicon substrates and CNT were grown on n-type and p-type silicon substrates.Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Raman spectroscopy were used to investigate the physical and chemical parameters of DLC films after deposition process. The electrical parameters of capacitors with the DLC layer as an insulator were extracted from the capacitance-voltage (C-V) and current-voltage (I-V) characteristics. Measurements of the field emission were performed after characterization of the layer properties.     

Contactless probing of the intrinsic carrier transport single-walled carbon nanotubes

Intrinsic carrier transport properties of single-walled carbon nanotubes have been probed by two parallel methods on the same individual tubes： The contactless dielectric force microscopy （DFM） technique and the conventional field-effect transistor （FET） method. The dielectric responses of SWNTs are strongly correlated with electronic transport of the corresponding FETs. The DC bias voltage in DFM plays a role analogous to the gate voltage in FET. A microscopic model based on the general continuity equation and numerical simulation is built to reveal the link between intrinsic properties such as carrier concentration and mobility and the macroscopic observable, i.e. dielectric responses, in DFM experiments. Local transport barriers in nanotubes, which influence the device transport behaviors, are also detected with nanometer scale resolution.     

Role of catalysts in the surface synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes

We demonstrate the role of catalysts in the surface growth of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) by reviewing recent progress in the surface synthesis of SWNTs. Three effects of catalysts on surface synthesis are studied: type of catalyst, the relationship between the size of catalyst particles and carbon feeding rates, and interactions between catalysts and substrates. Understanding of the role of catalysts will contribute to our ability to control the synthesis of SWNTs on various substrates and facilitate the fabrication of nanotube-based devices.      

Ageing effect on the field emission reproducibility of multiwalled carbon nanotubes

The ageing effect on the field emission (FE) reproducibility of multiwalleded carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) synthesised by plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition was investigated by scanning electron microscopy. To investigate the ageing effect on the physical state of the MWCNTs, a scanning electron microscope (SEM), a Raman spectrometer, an X-ray photoelectron spectroscope and an X-ray diffractometer were used to characterise the MWCNTs comprehensively before and after the ageing. Through ageing, the FE reproducibility became better because the larger number and more evenly distributed shorter MWCNTs – (resulted from the local vacuum breakdown of higher MWCNTs due to Joule heating and oxidisation) – became the dominating emitters.     

表面覆铪改善碳纳米管膜发射性能

研究了表面沉积铪膜并进行后处理对碳纳米管膜场电子发射性能的影响.研究结果表明在适当的退火温度下碳纳米管表面形成了碳化铪,并显著提高了碳纳米管的发射电流密度、发射均匀性和发射稳定性.我们认为碳纳米管表面发射性能的提高归功于表面碳化铪膜良好的导电性、化学惰性和低逸出功.     

Tunable separation of single-walled carbon nanotubes by dual-surfactant density gradient ultracentrifugation

We present a systematic study of the effects of surfactants in the separation of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) by density gradient ultracentrifugation (DGU). Through analysis of the buoyant densities, layer positions, and optical absorbance spectra of SWNT separation using the bile salt sodium deoxycholate (DOC) and the anionic salt sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), we clarify the roles and interactions of these two surfactants in yielding different DGU outcomes. The separation mechanism described here can also help in designing new DGU experiments by qualitatively predicting outcomes of different starting recipes, improving the efficacy of DGU and simplifying post-DGU fractionation.      

Functionalization of single-walled carbon nanotubes by citric acid/oxygen plasma treatment

A safe and simple method of functionalizing single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) has been developed, that significantly increases their dispersibility in water. SWCNTs in pure ethanol are treated with a supersonic homogenizer and dried. Then they are wetted with weak citric acid solution. Finally an RF (13.56 MHz) citric acid/oxygen plasma reaction is carried out under optimum conditions. As a result, hydrophilic functional groups attach onto the SWCNT surfaces, which enhance their dispersibility in water. The attachment of functional groups is identified by the FT-IR spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. The dispersibility and dispersion stability are studied by the precipitation tests, UV-visible spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. These functionalized SWCNTs are expected to be used in various applications.     

用于制备优质单壁碳纳米管管束的MgO负载Fe3O4纳米粒子的合成

采用沉淀方法制备了直径分布狭窄的均匀Fe3O4纳米颗粒.Fe3O4纳粒形体几近一致,平均粒径为10.33 nm±2.99 nm(平均粒径±标准偏差).在超声作用下将MgO纳米颗粒分散在一定量Fe3O4纳米颗粒的水溶液中获得MgO负载Fe3O4的纳米颗粒.以甲烷为碳源,Fe3O4/MgO为催化剂,经化学气相沉积,在Fe3O4纳粒上制得了大量直径近乎均匀的单壁碳纳米管(SWCNTs)束.TEM显示:SWCNTs的平均直径1.22rm.热重分析显示:样品在400℃～600℃温度区间失重量约19％.拉曼光谱显示:SWCNTs的ID/IG的强度比为0.03,表明采用Fe3O4/MgO催化剂可制得高石墨化程度的单壁碳纳米管.     

碳纳米管场发射阴极的制备及其场发射特性

采用电泳法将碳纳米管组装到电化学淀积的银台阵列上作为场发射阴极并研究了它的场发射特性.场发射特性测试结果表明:该阴极具有优异的场发射特性,开启电场为2.8V/μm,在应用电场为5.5V/μm时,发射电流密度达到1.7mA/cm2.具有优异的发射性能的原因可以归结到银台的边缘和银台类山状的表面增强了碳纳米管的场致电子发射.该阴极制备工艺简单、发射特性优异,且容易实现大面积制备,可以应用到大面积场发射显示器件中.     

Sanders shell model for buckling of single-walled carbon nanotubes with small aspect ratio

In this paper, the buckling behaviour of single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is revisited by resorting to Donnell and Sanders shell models, which are put in parallel and shown to lead to very distinct results for CNTs with small aspect ratio (length-to-diameter). This paper demonstrates inability of the widely used Donnell shell theory while it shows the validity and accuracy of the Sanders shell theory in reproducing buckling strains and mode shapes of axially compressed CNTs with small aspect ratios. The results obtained by the later shell theory are close to molecular dynamics simulation results.The Sanders shell theory could capture correctly the length-dependent buckling strains of CNTs which the Donnell shell theory fails to achieve. In view of this study, researchers should adopt the Sanders thin shell theory from hereon instead of the Donnell theory when analyzing CNTs with small aspect ratios.