Growth of compound single- and multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are complement to each other in many of their physical properties. We report the synthesis of carbon nanotube cables-a form of compound single- and multi-walled carbon nanotubes which could have the superior properties of both the SWCNTs and MWCNTs. This compound form of carbon nanotubes consists of a bundle of SWCNTs formed into a MWCNT, and the diameter of the inner most shell of the MWCNT ranges from a few to tens nanometers. The growth of these compound carbon nanotubes cannot be explained readily via existing modes of carbon nanotube growth, but promises a new way for improving and controlling the physical properties of either single- or multi-walled carbon nanotubes.     

Investigation of Bloch wall fine structures by magnetic force microscopy

Using a magnetic force microscope (MFM), measurements have been performed on single crystal iron whiskers. These samples exhibit a comparatively simple magnetic domain structure and a high degree of crystallographic perfection. STM measurements yield an average surface corrugation of about 3 nm. These nearly ideal boundary conditions permit an investigation of the undistorted surface configuration of Bloch walls in a cubic bulk crystal. Interactions between the stray field configuration of the sample and a ferromagnetic microscope tip have been measured with a new MFM device which is based on direct compliance detection. Measurements have been performed in the constant-current mode, as well as in the constant-compliance, mode. Control observation by means of the Kerr magneto-optic effect permit an interpretation of the obtained MFM data in terms of isolated 180° Bloch walls. The fine structure of these walls has been analysed and compared with results obtained from model calculations.     

Neutron scattering studies of BiFeO3 multiferroics: a review for microscopists

Application of the neutron scattering technique in the study of crystal and magnetic properties of multiferroic BiFeO₃ is presented. The crucial role of the neutron scattering technique, complementary to X-ray diffraction method and transmission electron microscopy, is shown. Especially the ultra high-resolution time-of-flight (TOF) neutron diffraction technique used by Sosnowska et al. to detect the magnetic cycloid ordering and its role in studies of physical properties of BiFeO₃ and its alloys are reviewed. The first inelastic neutron scattering patterns of magnetic excitations in BiFeO₃ are also presented. Applications of different microscopy techniques such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy ( SEM), field emission TEM and SEM (FESEM and FETEM), magnetic force microscope (MFM) and polarization force microscopy (PFM) bring insight on the fundamental problem of ferroelectricity and confirm the potential of BiFeO₃ multiferroic material for nanoscale devices.     

Ionic liquid modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes as lubricant additive

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were modified by imidazolium-based ionic liquid (IL), 1-hydroxyethyl-3-hexyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate and used as an additive in base stock IL 1-methyl-3-butylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate as the base lubricant. The effectiveness of using the IL- modified MWCNTs as lubricant additive was evaluated using a ball-on-plate configuration on an Optimol SRV oscillating friction and wear tester. The worn surfaces were examined using scanning electron microscope and the chemical composition on wear tracks was analyzed on an X-ray photoelectron spectrometer. Results suggest excellent anti-wear properties for the IL-modified MWCNTs as lubricant additive.     

Optimization of mixing process and effect of multi-walled carbon nanotubes on tensile properties of unsaturated polyester resin in composite materials

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were mixed with Unsaturated polyester resin (UPR) using the stir method at high temperatures. The mixing temperature and hardener ratio were optimized based on compression properties and the exothermic temperature. In the experiment, 60 °C and 1 wt.% of Methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (MEKP) were chosen for the mixing condition and catalyst concentration, respectively. MWCNTs with different weight fractions (0.05, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 wt.%) were dispersed to investigate the effect of MWCNTs on tensile properties of the UPR, and it was found that 0.1 wt.% of MWCNTs showed the best performance in this range of fiber weight fraction due to a higher strength (42.14 %), modulus (14.33 %) and fracture strain (37.17 %) than pure UPR. The state of dispersion and arrangement of fibers were examined by a Field emission Scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) according to fracture surfaces. Similarly, the FE-SEM also showed better results with 0.1 wt.% of MWCNTs mixed in the UPR.     

Lubricating and physico-chemical properties of CI- 4 plus engine oil dispersed with surface modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes

This paper studies the effect of surface modification of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) prior to dispersion in engine oil to improve the tribological properties. The MWCNTs are stabilised in the lubricant with two different surfactants cetrimonium bromide (CTAB) and sorbitan monooleate (SPAN 80) and the effect of surfactants on the tribological properties has been studied. Pristine and surface modified MWCNTs in weight per cent range of 0·5% are dispersed in CI4 plus diesel engine oil. The foaming tendency and other physico-chemical properties of test lubricant have been studied to investigate the effect of nano materials and surfactants. The anti-wear and anti-friction properties are tested on a four ball wear tester and the comparison is made to assess the relative performance of pristine MWCNTs over surface modified MWCNTs. A strong influence of the surface modification technique is found on lubricating and physico-chemical properties. Both CTAB and SPAN 80 could keep the MWCNTs stable in the lubricant without compromising the foaming tendency of lubricant and other physico-chemical properties. The friction and wear characteristics of lubricants have improved with the dispersion of surface modified MWCNTs while there is no improvement in the properties of lubricant dispersed with pristine MWCNTs.     

Tribological interaction between multi-walled carbon nanotubes and silica surface using lateral force microscopy

This work presents the tribological interaction between multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and silica surface using lateral manipulation in the atomic force microscope (AFM). The MWCNT is mechanically manipulated by a pyramidal silicon probe of an AFM using the same scan mechanism as in the imaging mode. With a controlled normal force of the AFM probe, it was found that lateral force applied to the MWCNT could overcome the tribological adhesion between MWCNT and silica surface, causing individual MWCNT to rotate on the silica. According to the results, the shear stresses due to tribological interacting with the MWCNTs and the silica are 59.6 MPa and 64.8 MPa for the MWCNT 1 (100 nm diameter) and the MWCNT 2 (60 nm diameter), respectively. Experimental results show that the shear stress increases with the increasing rotation angle for each manipulation, from which we determine the linear fitting function. In addition, we determine the relationship between push point and pivot point to realize the rotation behavior. The implications of tribological interaction between the MWCNTs and silica surface are discussed in detail.     

Tribological behaviors of surfactant-functionalized carbon nanotubes as lubricant additive in water

The multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are functionalized by self-assembled surfactant layers after sonication in anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) aqueous solution. The tribological properties of the SDS-functionalized MWCNTs as additive in water-based lubricants were evaluated with a four-ball tester. The results show that the SDS-functionalized MWCNTs exhibit good anti-wear and friction reduction properties as well as enhanced load-carrying capacity. The maximum non-seizure load (PB value) can be raised about 3–7 times when SDS-functionalized MWCNTs were added into water. The mechanism of SDS-functionalized MWCNT additive was investigated with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), and Raman spectroscopy. These preliminary results show a promise in applications of surfactant functional carbon nanotubes as an additive in water.     

Calculation of the Bloch wall contrast in magnetic force microscopy

The magnetic force microscope (MFM) is a promising analytical tool for the mapping of magnetic microfield distributions on a nanometre scale. The detailed interpretation of experimentally obtained data requires a rigorous micromagnetic analysis of the underlying magnetostatic tip-sample interactions. We have performed model calculations yielding the MFM image contrast obtained for 180° Bloch walls using ferromagnetic microscope tips. The actually observed wall image is shown to depend critically upon the mesoscopic tip design. The spatial resolution and also values for the resulting interaction forces and tip-sample compliances are derived.     

Electron irradiation-induced destruction of carbon nanotubes in electron microscopes

Observations of carbon nanotubes under exposure to electron beam irradiation in standard transmission electron microscope (TEM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) systems show that such treatment in some cases can cause severe damage of the nanotube structure, even at electron energies far below the approximate 100 keV threshold for knock-on damage displacing carbon atoms in the graphene structure. We find that the damage we observe in one TEM can be avoided by use of a cold finger. This and the morphology of the damage imply that water vapour, which is present as a background gas in many vacuum chambers, can damage the nanotube structure through electron beam-induced chemical reactions. Though, the dependence on the background gas makes these observations specific for the presently used systems, the results demonstrate the importance of careful assessment of the level of subtle structural damage that the individual electron microscope system can do to nanostructures during standard use.     

Atomic and magnetic force microscopy imaging of thin-film recording heads

Investigations on the use of the scanning probe microscope (SPM) in the atomic force microscopy (AFM) mode for topography imaging and the magnetic force microscopy (MFM) mode for magnetic imaging are presented for a thin-film recording head. Results showed that the SPM is suitable for imaging the surface profile of the recording head, determining the width of the pole gap region, and mapping the magnetic field patterns of the recording head excited under current bias conditions of different polarity. For the cobalt sputter-coated tips used in MFM imaging, it was found that the magnetic field patterns obtained under different polarities of the current bias to the recording head were similar. This can be explained by the nature of the thin-film MFM tip, in which the direction of the tip magnetic moment can follow the stray magnetic field of the sample as the current bias to the recording head reverses in direction.     

A novel 3-D graphite structure from thermally stabilized electrospun MWCNTs/PAN nanofibril composite fabrics

Multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and nanofibers are characterized by their high surface energy. In this paper, such a cohesive energy was activated by using hot-pressing technique to build strong and flexible MWCNTs/carbon nanofibril hybrid fabrics. MWCNTs of three different diameters, and each with five different weight concentrations, were dispersed in 10 wt% polyacrylonitrile (PAN)/DMF polymer solution. PAN/DMF?+?MWCNT dispersions were electrospun under optimum electrospinning conditions, and the collected fabrics were thermally stabilized under a static pressure. They were then re-heat-treated in a tube furnace with a nitrogen flow. Strength of 70 MPa, modulus of 4 GP, and strain of 5 % were reported for the fabrics. Modulus of 100 GPa was reported for a single nanofibril composite. A novel 3-D graphite structure has been discovered as a result of the interaction between MWCNTs and stabilized PAN nanofibers during graphitization at much lower temperature and pressure. Fabrics were investigated by using SEM, HRTEM, AFM, and x-ray diffraction.     

水基混合纳米流体对内冷却磨削性能的影响

添加多壁碳纳米管（MWCNTs）、二硫化钼（MoS2)、离子液体（1-乙基-3-甲基咪唑四氟硼酸盐,［EMIm］BF4）和阿拉伯树胶（GA）制备成稳定分散的水基ILs-MWCNTs/MoS2混合纳米流体。研究了混合纳米流体的摩擦学性能和热物性,并与传统磨削液进行内冷却磨削对比试验,分析了两种磨削液条件下的磨削温度和表面完整性。研究结果表明：混合纳米流体的磨削温度、表面粗糙度和显微硬度分别降低了8.1%、21.4%和6.56%,残余压应力增大了11.6 MPa,表面形貌也更为光滑规整,混合纳米流体体现出了更好的磨削性能。能谱仪（EDS）分析结果表明,在离子液体与纳米颗粒的物理协同强化作用下,混合纳米流体表现出了优异的冷却与润滑性能,改善了磨削性能。     

Multi-walled Carbon Nanotube-Imidazolium Tosylate Ionic Liquid Lubricant

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were added in a 0.5 wt% proportion to 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium room temperature ionic liquids (IL) The new IL + MWCNTs dispersions obtained by mechanical grinding were used as lubricants of the polycarbonate (PC) disc/AISI 316L stainless steel pin contact, and their tribological performance compared with that of the corresponding IL. The highest friction reduction at 0.98 N and 0.10 m s^?1, of a 54 %, was obtained when MWCNT were added to 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tosylate ([EMIM]Ts). The [EMIM]Ts + MWCNT dispersion was further characterised by rheological measurements, contact angle, DSC, TGA, FTIR and Raman spectroscopies, TEM microscopy and XRD. The addition of MWCNTs increases the viscosity of the IL in a 50 % at room temperature and the wettability on the PC surface, while the IL increases the purity and alignment of the nanotubes. The variation of friction coefficient was determined under variable sliding velocity conditions. The higher friction reduction for [EMIM]Ts + MWCNT with respect to [EMIM]Ts is observed for sliding velocities higher than 0.075 m s^?1. Under the experimental conditions, the surface damage on the PC and AISI 316L surfaces was negligible.     

Investigating the change in wear behaviour of a tool steel after surface melting and gaseous alloying

In this study it is shown that surface melting in the presence of a reactive gas can be used as a method of changing the tribological properties of a hot forging die steel. A H13 tool steel surface was melted in the presence of a gaseous shield of pure argon, nitrogen, carbon dioxide and a mixture of 80% carbon dioxide–20% argon. Microhardness profile measurements and metallographic examination was used to study the changes in wear behaviour after surface modification. The results indicate a significant increase in surface hardness after the melting and gaseous alloying process with the most wear resistant surfaces produced under a shield of CO₂ and CO₂–Ar gases. This was attributed to the formation of a fine dendritic microstructure consisting of chromium–vanadium carbides. The presence of these hard phases in the surface reduce the degree of plastic deformation and wear by adhesive mechanisms.     

Lubrication Effect of the Paraffin Oil Filled with Functionalized Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes for Bismaleimide Resin

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were functionalized and were used as additives in paraffin oil to improve its lubrication effect for bismaleimide resin. The tribological behavior of bismaleimide resin lubricated by the paraffin oil filled with the functionalized carbon nanotubes was investigated by friction and wear tester. The wear surface of the resin with steel ball as tribopair was analyzed by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was found that the addition of this kind of functionalized MWCNTs effectively reduced the friction coefficient. An optimal additive concentration existed in the system and was found to be 0.025 wt%. A lubrication model for the resin and steel ball system was postulated and it was the isolating effect and bearing structure of f-MWCNTs that played a key role in friction and wear reduction.     

Electron holographic observation of micro-magnetic fields current-generated from single carbon coil

A carbon coil was evaluated for use as a micro-solenoid in a small magnetic device. A single carbon coil was lifted out of the aggregate using a tungsten fine probe in a focused ion beam (FIB) system and was wired to two small electrodes in the specimen holder of a transmission electron microscope (TEM). A direct current was supplied to the single carbon coil. A micro/nano-magnetic field generated from the coil was directly observed by electron holography. A computer simulation of electron holography was also done to quantitatively analyze the magnetic field. Details on the FIB technique, the electron holographic observation and the simulation are described.     

多壁碳纳米管改性UHMWPE的热膨胀和摩擦学性能研究

为了降低摩擦副用聚合物的热膨胀系数,用多壁碳纳米管(MWCNTs)改性超高分子量聚乙烯(UHM-WPE),通过热压成型法制备MWCNTs/UHMWPE复合材料.通过测量电导率计算渗流阈值来表征分散性;用热膨胀仪(DIL)测试复合材料的热膨胀率,并在干摩擦环境下,测试不同MWCNTs含量复合材料的摩擦学性能.结果表明:通...     

Studies of supported metal catalysts using high resolution secondary electron imaging in a STEM

An additional technique for use in the characterization of catalysts by electron microscopy is presented. High resolution secondary electron images obtained in a VG HB501 scanning transmission electron microscope have been used to study the surface topography of catalysts consisting of small metal particles on high surface area carbon supports. Surface features down to nanometre dimensions can be seen, allowing the examination of micropores in the support as well as larger pore structures. The results are compared with pore size distributions determined by gas adsorption methods, and are shown to yield valuable additional information. In addition, the method in principle allows examination of the locations of small metal catalyst particles on the support.     

Ag基碳纳米管(碳纳米纤维)复合电镀

为获得电接触性能优越的复合电镀层，选用碳纳米管及碳纳米纤维作为增强相物质，在优化选择的镀液体系中，利用超声振荡辅助复合电镀制备Ag基碳纳米管及碳纳米纤维复合电镀层。通过扫描电子显微镜（SEM）和透射电子显微镜（TEM）进行观察，证明碳纳米管及碳纳米纤维能够均匀分散到Ag基体中并实现良好结合，其中，Ag更在碳纳米管表面外延生长，形成了有效的界面结合。