Direct synthesis of carbon nanofibers on modified biomass-derived activated carbon

Carbon nanofibers were synthesized on activated carbons produced from agricultural waste using chemical vapor deposition. Importantly, iron already present in the ash content of the activated carbon was employed as a natural catalyst for nanofiber formation. The need for a wet chemical catalyst preparation step was avoided.     

Glassy carbon electrode modified with Nafion-Au colloids for clenbuterol electroanalysis

Stable Nafion-Au colloids were immobilized on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) for detection of β-agonist clenbuterol by electroanalysis. The Au colloids were prepared by a one-step electrodeposition onto GCE, with obvious electrocatalytic activity present. The negatively charged Nafion film was an efficient barrier to negatively charged interfering compounds, resulting in accumulation of positively charged clenbuterol at the Nafion film. The electrochemical characters of the electrode during various modified steps in a redox probe system of K₄[Fe(CN)₆]/K₃[Fe(CN)₆] were confirmed by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and AC-impedance. In Britton-Robinson (B-R) buffer solution (pH = 2.0) and the potential range of −0.2 to 1.2 V, the Nafion-Au colloid modified electrode, compared to a bare GCE, exhibits obvious electrocatalytic activity towards the redox of clenbuterol by greatly enhancing the peak current with a linear calibration curve from 8.0 × 10⁻⁷ to 1.0 × 10⁻⁵ mol/L and a detection limit of (1.0 × 10⁻⁷ mol/L) (R = 0.996). The modified electrode shows high sensitivity, selectivity and reproducibility. The recovery for detecting clenbuterol (∼10⁻⁶ mol/L) in human serum is up to 98.19%.     

Orientated crystallization in drawn thermoplastic polyimide modified by carbon nanofibers

The solid state crystallization in drawn thermoplastic polyimide films is studied as a function of draw ratio (DR) under the effect of vapor grown carbon fiber nanoinclusions. The nucleating effect of the nanoinclusions coupled with the orientation effect of drawing generates a unique orientated layered lamellar structure, characteristic of smectic‐like mesophase. The degree of draw induced orientated crystallization increases with the content of nanoinclusions and with the DR, and is reflected in the mechanical behavior of the film. Generally, the Young's modulus and the yield point of the drawn crystalline films in the drawing direction are significantly higher compared with the noncrystalline counterparts. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2009. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Growth of carbon nanofibers on activated carbon fiber fabrics

Activated carbon fiber fabrics, an excellent adsorbent, were used as catalyst supports to grow carbon nanofibers. Because of the microporous structure of the activated carbon fibers, the catalysts could be distributed uniformly on the carbon surface. Based on this concept, the carbon nanofibers can be grown directly on the activated carbon fiber fabrics. We demonstrate that carbon nanofibers with a diameter between 20 and 50 nm for most of the fibers can be synthesized uniformly and densely on activated carbon fiber fabrics, impregnated by nickel nitrate catalyst precursor, using catalytic chemical vapor deposition. Although the carbon nanofibers are not straight with a crooked morphology, they form a three-dimensional network structure. Structure characterizations by TEM and XRD indicate that the carbon nanofibers have a turbostratic graphite structure and the graphite layers are stacked with a herringbone structure.     

Permeability measurements and flow simulation for polyaniline carbon nanofibers modified nanopaper on glass fiber preform

Carbon nanofibers (CNFs) nanopapers have shown great potential to improve the surface of fiber‐reinforced polymeric composites, including providing electromagnetic interference shielding and erosion resistance. During typical resin transfer molding (RTM) process, the CNF nanopaper is incorporated into the fiber preform as a surface layer. To learn how resin flows through the fiber preform and nanopaper layer, permeabilities of the fiber preform and nanopaper need to be measured. As is well known, measuring the permeability of fiber preforms is experimentally challenging. Results usually exhibit large experimental variability. Measuring permeability of nanopapers is even more complicated. To improve the accuracy of results, permeability of CNF‐based nanopapers was measured using different experimental setups. In‐plane permeability of nanopaper was measured by both unidirectional microslit flow and radial flow approaches. Trans‐plane permeability was measured as well, using a trans‐plane flow cell and a flow visualization mold. In this article, we discuss the methods used and provide experimental results. We also conducted computational fluid dynamics simulations to study the detailed flow patterns of the nanopaper/RTM process and compared the simulated effect of the nanopaper on retarding the flow (length of the lag) with respect to the glass preform with flow visualization results. POLYM. COMPOS., 37:435–445, 2016. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Production,structure, and mechanical properties of carbon plastics based on a crystallizing polyimide matrix modified by carbon nanofibers

Carbon-fiber composites have been made under laboratory conditions on the basis of partially crystallized polyimide (PI) matrices of R-ODFO type as modified by carbon nanofibers of VGCF type. The R-ODFO matrix is modified by nanofibers in an amount of 3 mass %, which leads to the following: firstly, an approximately tenfold reduction in the time for the crystallization of the PI matrix, and secondly, the viscosity of interlayer failure in the carbon plastic (for fibers Elur-0.08P) on the basis of the R-ODFO/VGCF composite is maintained at the fairly high level of about 1100 J/m² even with a high degree of crystallinity (about 40%) in the PI matrix, which cannot be done for the unmodified R-ODFO matrix. Triple composite can be made from a PI matrix, carbon microfibers of Elur type (volume content about 55%) and VGCF nanofibers (weight content in PI matrix about 3%), which provides a heat-resisting carbon plastic with a fairly high viscosity for interlayer failure. Translated from Khimicheskie Volokna, No. 4, pp. 80–84, July–August, 2008.     

Consolidation of carbon nanofibers with pyrolytic carbon

A strategy of industrial-scale manufacture for a wide range of carbon materials based on carbon nanofibers is proposed. It was shown that porous materials with a high sorption capacity can be obtained with the use of carbon nanofibers by means of conventional manufacturing operations. The results of studying of consolidation of carbon nanofibers with pyrolytic carbon are reported. It was found that the nature of carbon material has a substantial effect on the rate of deposition of pyrolytic carbon. The most appropriate temperature range in which carbon nanofibers should be consolidated for the preparation of materials with a high catalytic activity was determined.     

The production of porous carbon nanofibers from cross-linked polyphosphazene nanofibers

Uniform porous carbon nanofibers with an average diameter of 90 nm were fabricated by forming polyphosphazene nanofibers and carbonizing them, without the need for any activation step. The structure and morphology of the carbon nanofibers were characterized by SEM, TEM, EDX, XRD, Raman spectrum and N₂ adsorption. Results showed that the carbon nanofibers have a BET surface area of about 540 m² g⁻¹, a total pore volume of about 0.37 m³ g⁻¹, and a narrow pore size distribution in the micropore range.     

Formation of carbon nanofibers via carbon monoxide disproportionation

Experimental results suggesting that carbon nanofibers are formed from amorphous carbon released at several compact active sites are reported. It was shown that the sites in question are catalyst crystal lattice defects formed at the crystallite contact boundaries.     

High Precision Deposition Electrospinning of nanofibers and nanofiber nonwovens

Electrospinning is known to produce nanofiber nonwovens with lateral dimensions in 10 cm up to the meter range meeting thus requirements characteristic of filter, textile or even tissue engineering applications. For particular applications other types of deposition pattern are of benefit (i) in which the deposition area is strongly limited in the lateral dimension, (ii) in which a linear deposition path is oriented along a specified direction or (iii) in which the nonwovens are deposited following a predesigned pattern. This paper reports experimental results for the High Precision Deposition Electrospinning (HPDE) approach introduced by us earlier. It is based on a syringe type die-counter electrode set-up used for conventional continuous electrospinning, the key feature being a reduction of the distance between the spinning die and the substrate from the conventional value of 10-50 cm down to the millimeter and below mm range in order to suppress the onset of bending instabilities and the corresponding spread of the deposition area. The architecture of the nonwovens is controlled in this case by buckling processes and deflections of the jet by transiently charged nanofibers on the substrate. A second important feature of the set-up is a counter electrode/substrate which can be subjected to precise motions in the deposition plane. Based on a careful optimization of the spinning parameters and a tight online control of the spinning process a deposition of individual nanofibers or nonwovens is achieved which meets all deposition requirements specified above. This opens the route towards novel applications among others in areas relying on specific surface architectures such as sensorics, microfluidics and possibly also surfaces of implants.     

Synthesis and structure of carbon belts made of carbon nanofibers supported on carbon foams

Two-dimensional carbon belts (CBs) made of carbon nanofibers (CNFs) supported on a carbon foam (CFoam) substrate have been synthesized by a procedure involving carbonization of polyamic acid (PAA)/Ni(NO₃)₂ solution impregnated polyurethane foam in flowing H₂ at 700 °C and catalytic chemical vapor deposition (CCVD) using C₂H₄ as a carbon source and SO₂ as a promoter. The CBs, which are hundreds of micrometers in length, several micrometers in width and tens of nanometers in thickness, are made of CNFs with a low degree of graphitization that array with an orientation roughly parallel to the longitudinal axis of the CBs. The results show that the mass ratio of Ni to PAA, a H₂ atmosphere in carbonization and SO₂ in CCVD process are the three key factors governing the growth of the CBs.     

Chemical vapor-deposited carbon nanofibers on carbon fabric for supercapacitor electrode applications

Entangled carbon nanofibers (CNFs) were synthesized on a flexible carbon fabric (CF) via water-assisted chemical vapor deposition at 800°C at atmospheric pressure utilizing iron (Fe) nanoparticles as catalysts, ethylene (C₂H₄) as the precursor gas, and argon (Ar) and hydrogen (H₂) as the carrier gases. Scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and electron dispersive spectroscopy were employed to characterize the morphology and structure of the CNFs. It has been found that the catalyst (Fe) thickness affected the morphology of the CNFs on the CF, resulting in different capacitive behaviors of the CNF/CF electrodes. Two different Fe thicknesses (5 and 10 nm) were studied. The capacitance behaviors of the CNF/CF electrodes were evaluated by cyclic voltammetry measurements. The highest specific capacitance, approximately 140 F g⁻¹, has been obtained in the electrode grown with the 5-nm thickness of Fe. Samples with both Fe thicknesses showed good cycling performance over 2,000 cycles.     

Au/SiO_2纳米粒子修饰玻碳电极的制备及其应用

通过电化学法将二氧化硅和金纳米粒子同步沉积到玻碳电极表面,制得Au/SiO2纳米粒子修饰电极(Nano-Au/SiO2/GCE)。采用电子扫描显微镜和交流阻抗考察该修饰电极形貌及其电化学性能,并研究了NADH在该修饰电极上的电化学行为。结果表明,NADH在修饰电极上的氧化峰峰电位降低约300 mV,峰电流明显增大。在最佳实验条件下,其电流响应与NADH浓度在1.0×10-6～1.0×10-4mol/L呈良好的线性关系,相关系数0.998。     

Thermal conductivity of individual carbon nanofibers

In the present paper, we present results of thermal conductivity measurements in commercially-available, chemical vapor deposition grown, heat-treated and non-heat-treated individual carbon nanofibers (CNFs). The thermal conductivity measurements are made using the T-type probe experimental configuration using a Wollaston wire probe inside a high resolution scanning electron microscope. The results show a significant increase in the thermal conductivity of CNFs that are annealed at 2800 °C for 20 h when compared with the non-heat-treated CNF samples. When adjusted for thermal contact resistance, the highest measured thermal conductivity is 449 ± 39 W/m-K. The average thermal conductivity of the heat-treated samples is 163 W/m-K, while the average thermal conductivity of the non-heat-treated samples is 4.6 W/m-K. The results demonstrate the importance of the quality of the CNFs, in particular their heat treatment (high temperature annealing), in controlling their thermal conductivity for thermal management applications.     

Electrochemical surface oxidation of carbon nanofibers

Carbon nanofiber (CNF) surfaces were functionalized with oxygen-bearing groups through electrochemical oxidation. The electrode was prepared without a binder, allowing easy separation of the functionalized CNFs for subsequent applications. The relationships between the applied potential and the CNF structure with the resulting O/C atomic ratio and the distribution of oxygen functional groups were investigated. Surface groups were identified and characterized by elemental analyses, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, micro-attenuated total reflectance FTIR, and cyclic voltammetry. The oxidation of herringbone CNFs was initiated at a relatively low potential at both the anodic and cathodic electrodes, while the O/C atomic ratio remained relatively constant within the range of potentials investigated. The relative concentration of carbonyl and hydroxyl groups increased with increasing potential while the amount of carboxylic groups decreased. The structure of the CNF was important in determining the O/C atomic ratio, which was especially dependent on the spatial arrangement of graphene layers. Tubular CNFs exhibited low O/C atomic ratios while herringbone CNFs, which have a higher surface area, exhibited the largest ratios. The dispersion of the CNFs in water was much more homogeneous following electrochemical oxidation.     

Uniaxial deformation of an elastomer nanocomposite containing modified carbon nanofibers by in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction

Structure and property of a nanocomposite consisting of modified carbon nanofibers (MCNFs), homogenously dispersed in an elastomeric ethylene/propylene (EP) random copolymer (84.3 wt% P) matrix, were studied by in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction during uniaxial deformation. The MCNF acted as a nucleating agent for crystallization of the α-form of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) in the matrix. During deformation at room temperature, strain-induced crystallization took place, while the transformation from the γ phase to α phase also occurred for both unfilled and 10 wt% MCNF-filled samples. The tensile strength of the filled material was consistently higher than that of pure copolymer. However, when compared with pure copolymer, the highly stretched nanocomposite exhibited a higher amount of unoriented crystals, a lower degree of crystal orientation and a higher amount of γ crystals. This behavior indicated that polymer crystals in the filled nanocomposite experienced a reduced load, suggesting an effective load transfer from the matrix to MCNFs. At elevated temperatures, the presence of MCNFs resulted in a thermally stable physically cross-linked network, which facilitated strain-induced crystallization and led to a remarkable improvement in the mechanical properties. For example, the toughness of the 10 wt% nanocomposite was found to increase by a factor of 150 times at 55 °C.     

Structural analysis of conical carbon nanofibers

Conical carbon nanofibers are a relatively new type of carbon nanomaterial that has received considerable scientific and commercial interest due to its physical properties. However, its structure and growth mechanism have still not been determined conclusively. In this study the structure of these materials was investigated employing molecular models and structural analyses and compared with reported experimental observations, principally of cone apex angles. The results showed that stacked cone models could not explain the wide variety of apex angles observed for these nanofibers and related structures. Cone-helix models, originally proposed for other carbon conical structures, allow a variety of apex angle structures and were found to be applicable for nanofibers as well. An equation was developed that allows for prediction of cone-helix structures with good graphitic alignment. Such structures were also shown to be more compatible with the physical properties and growth mechanism of nanofibers than stacked cone structures. From these results a cone-helix structure, and a new cone-helical growth mechanism for the nanofibers based on heterogeneous nucleation on conical catalyst particles, are proposed.