Comparison of nanotubes produced by fixed bed and aerosol-CVD methods and their electrical percolation behaviour in melt mixed polyamide 6.6 composites

The electrical percolation behaviour of five different kinds of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) synthesised by two CVD techniques was investigated on melt mixed composites based on an insulating polyamide 6.6 matrix. The electrical percolation behaviour was found to be strongly dependent on the properties of CNTs which varied with the synthesis conditions. The lowest electrical percolation threshold (0.04 wt.%) was determined for as grown multi-walled carbon nanotubes without any purification or chemical treatment. Such carbon nanotubes were synthesised by the aerosol method using acetonitrile as ferrocene containing solvent and show relatively low oxygen content near the surface, high aspect ratio, and good dispersability. Similar properties could be found for nanotubes produced by the aerosol method using cyclohexane, whereas CNTs produced by the fixed bed method using different iron contents in the catalyst material showed much higher electrical percolation thresholds between 0.35 and 1.02 wt.%.     

Liquid-crystalline phases formed by symmetrical azines with different terminal chains: Thermal,optical and electrical study

One series of symmetrical azine-type liquid crystals were synthesized and their chemical structure identified by FTIR, NMR, high resolution mass spectrometry-electro spray ionization (MS-ESI) and elemental analysis. The absorption (UV–vis), photoluminescence (PL) and thermoluminescence (TL) features of the compounds are documented. X-ray diffraction was employed to evaluate their phase transitional behaviour. Their mesomorphic properties were investigated by polarizing optical microscopy (POM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Terminal groups of the liquid crystals had an effect on their mesomorphic properties. Azine with alkoxysemiperfluorinated end-groups (A1) exhibited smectic C (SmC) phase, whereas azine with octadecyloxy end chains (A3) showed SmC and SmA phases. Azine with 5″-octyl-2,2′:5′,2″-terthiophene groups (A2) exhibited only nematic phase. Different types of N and SmC textures were found and investigated by POM technique. Azine with thiophene groups (A2) has an absorption band about 138 nm batochromically shifted compared to the analogous band of other compounds. The lowest optical band gap value (2.34 eV) was detected for A2. Azines emitted violet or green light. The thermoluminescence emission of azines occurred at about 390–440 nm wavelengths. Current–voltage measurements were performed on ITO/compound/Alq₃/Al and ITO/TiO₂/compound/Alq₃/Al devices before and after light irradiation. To prepare TiO₂ layer, sol–gel technique was applied.