In-situ studies of electron field emission of single carbon nanotubes inside the TEM

Electron field emission characteristics of individual multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were investigated in situ inside the transmission electron microscope (TEM). For a single MWCNT it was found that while field-emission can hardly occur from the side of the nanotube, a curved nanotube may result in finite side emission and the best emission geometry is the top emission geometry. Current-voltage (I-V) measurements made at different vacuum conditions and voltage sweeps emphasize the importance of the adsorbates on the electron field emission of MWCNTs. For a contaminated MWCNT, although the field emission current was reduced, the stability of its emission was improved. A current of up to several tens of μA was observed for a single MWCNT, but it was found that long time emission usually results in drastic structure damage that may lead to sudden emission failure.     

Characterization of multiwall carbon nanotubes and influence of surfactant in the nanocomposite processing

Carbon nanotubes prepared by a classical CVD method with a nickel catalyst have been characterized, then used as conducting anisometric objects dispersed into a polymeric matrix. In a first part, these nanotubes are structurally characterized before and after heat treatments (HTT=1500, 2000, 2500 °C). Diffusion Raman experiments and diamagnetic susceptibility experiments demonstrated their limited graphitized structures.Then, in a second step, a well defined processing way to prepare nanocomposites with a standard epoxy resin is presented. In particular, the use or not of a non-ionic surfactant (Tergitol) to disperse these nanotubes is analyzed. The influence of nanotube contents is examined on the bulk nanocomposite density, the glass transition temperature of the nanocomposites, and the d.c. electrical conductivity behavior. These results demonstrated that the interfacial properties are playing a fundamental role. On one hand, the glass transition temperature is increasing with the nanotube content, and on the other hand, the percolation threshold is found for a rather high critical volumic concentration. Finally, it is demonstrated that a pure geometrical model is not sufficient to explain these behaviors and that a wrapping effect of the organic matrix around the nanotubes has to be considered.     

Strong influence of buffer layer type on carbon nanotube characteristics

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been grown by chemical vapor deposition in a vacuum chamber equipped with in situ photoelectron spectroscopy technique that allows for precise characterization of the chemical state of substrate and catalyst before the CNTs growth. The CNTs were grown onto Si wafers covered with thin buffer layers of Al, Al₂O₃, TiN, and TiO₂, using Fe as catalyst. Marked differences were observed both in growth rate and nanotube characteristics, as determined by SEM, TEM and micro-Raman spectroscopy, depending on the choice of buffer layer.     

Carbonaceous adsorbents from sewage sludge and their application in a combined activated sludge-powdered activated carbon (AS-PAC) treatment

In this study, waste biological sludge is converted to an adsorbent by chemical activation with sulphuric acid. The adsorbent obtained is then applied to the aerated vessel of an activated sludge process treating glucose and phenol to improve the quality of the treated effluent. The sludge-based carbonaceous adsorbent was found to be mesoporous in nature, with a good adsorption capacity for large molecular weight compounds and limited removal efficiency for smaller molecules such as phenol. The addition of carbon, either sludge-based or commercial, enhanced phenol removal from 58% to 98.7% and from 87% to 93% the organic matter removal as measured by the chemical oxygen demand (COD) when operated with feed concentrations of 100 mg phenol/l and 2500 mg COD/l. No differences were found between the activated sludge-activated carbon bench scale continuous reactors operating with either commercial or sludge-based adsorbents in spite of the higher adsorption capacity of the former. It is suggested that powdered adsorbent bioregeneration in the combined AS-PAC system may be impaired by the obstruction of pores due to bacterial growth, the effect being more important for the commercial activated carbon with a narrower pore size distribution.     

炭黑表面的纳米结构对橡胶的补强作用

通过扫描隧道显微镜(STM)技术了解到炭黑粒子表面的鳞片状石墨微晶组成的纳米级精细结构，并研究炭黑对橡胶的补强机理。研究表明，炭黑表面的纳米结构使橡胶分子链网络缠绕在炭黑表面，并将外来应力分散到其它分子网络上，共同分担应力，使橡胶弹性体体系不至于迅速破坏。     

活性炭材料脱除烟气中SO_2的机理研究

介绍了活性炭材料的脱硫机理;论述了烟气中O2和H2O在脱硫过程中的作用,O2与炭表面作用形成的C-O中间物可氧化SO2,H2O具有洗脱H2SO4、提供质子及水解作用;活性炭材料表面的碱性对脱硫具有促进作用,炭表面的催化活性位能够有效催化转化SO2。     

颗粒活性炭的特性参数与吸附性能的关系试验

采用活性炭进行饮用水的深度处理,选择适合原水水质的活性炭至关重要,通过6种不同颗粒活性炭特性参数的测试,对饮用水有机物的吸附试验以及吸附等温线的测定,结果表明:针对颗粒活性炭的筛选,碘值,亚甲蓝值,吸附等温线的KF及斜率1/n值均不能单独作为评价筛选活性炭优劣的指标,而应综合考虑颗粒活性炭的孔径分布与原水中有机物的相对分子质量分布相匹配等。研究还表明:碘值,亚甲蓝值,吸附等温线的KF存在一定的相关性,从颗粒活性炭的特性参数和吸附性能参数可以推测活性炭滤柱试验吸附效果。颗粒活性炭用于饮用水深度处理,能去除水中相对分子质量小的有机物,处理的水量为颗粒活性炭体积的4800倍时,对CODMn的去除率为15%左右。     

The effect of fibre-matrix interactions on structure and property changes during the fabrication of unidirectional carbon/carbon composites

This paper reports the systematic characterisation of changes in the structure and properties of a series of unidirectional carbon-carbon composites at key stages of processing. The composites were fabricated from PAN-based carbon fibres (surface treated and untreated) and two carbon matrix systems (graphitising and non-graphitising). The effects of matrix shrinkage, together with thermal expansion mismatch and interfacial bonding, established the composite structure and hence the composite properties. The morphology and interconnectivity of the shrinkage cracks, the strength and nature of the fibre-matrix interfacial interaction and the development of matrix texture were identified as key structural features. These features were characterised and their effect on subsequent processing stages (densification) and composite properties was determined.     

Induction plasma synthesis of fullerenes and nanotubes using carbon black–nickel particles

The existence of fullerenes (as allotropes of carbon) was established in the mid-1980s and during the last 15–18 years, systematic efforts have been devoted to improve the methods of their synthesis, including plasma-based system methods. The work presented here is focused on the investigation of fullerenes synthesis, using a radio frequency plasma reactor. The main objectives were to explore the use of induction plasma technology for the synthesis in-continuo of carbon fullerenes and to predict their formation conditions through conduct of theoretical studies. Thus, a thermodynamic study was carried out to predict the equilibrium composition of fullerenes produced at several combinations of operating conditions. Additionally, a statistical factorial design experiment, employing four factors at two levels, was also developed, in order to study the influence of the system’s operating parameters on the eventual C₆₀ fullerene yield. The results obtained showed that the reactor pressure, the electrical power and the raw material feed rates all have an important effect on the synthesis of fullerenes. The highest C₆₀ concentration in the products was found to be about 7.7 wt.%. Various other carbon nanostructures, such as nanotubes and nano-onions, were also successfully produced.     

Mass production of high-quality multi-walled carbon nanotube bundles on a Ni/Mo/MgO catalyst

A new catalyst (Ni/Mo/MgO) is reported, with which one can synthesize multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) bundles with a yield of more than 45 times the amount of the pristine catalyst, using a methane-hydrogen mixture as precursor. Powder X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and thermal gravimetric analysis show that the purity of the as-prepared MWNTs is over 97%. The diameter of the carbon nanotubes is 9-20 nm, measured by high-resolution electron microscopy on 421 individual MWNTs. The high purity of the as-prepared MWNTs allows us to omit the usual complex purification process required for carbon nanotubes synthesized by chemical vapor deposition. Because of its durable high activity, the Ni/Mo/MgO catalyst in its pristine state is ideal for mass production of high-quality MWNTs. The synergism of nickel and molybdenum is considered the main reason for the high yield of carbon nanotubes.