Effect of multiwalled carbon nanotubes on crystallization behavior of poly(vinylidene fluoride) in different solvents

In this study, the poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)—multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) composites have been prepared by solution casting in two different solvents: dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and dimethylacetamide (DMAc). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) results showed that the crystal phases of PVDF are quite different in the two solvents. When DMSO is used as the solvent, the PVDF crystalline phases could be greatly alternated from α‐form to β‐form by the incorporation of MWNTs. While the crystalline structure of PVDF hardly change in the case of DMAc. The DSC and polarized optical microphotographs implied that MWNTs not only act as nucleating agents for PVDF but also confine the crystallization of PVDF. Besides, it was found that the storage modulus (E′) of the composites were significantly enhanced with an appropriate content of MWNTs. And when using DMSO as the solvent, one relaxation process emerges in the loss tan δ (loss factor) curves of the neat PVDF and PVDF/MWNTs composites, while it was not observed in the DMAc system. The obtained results revealed that varing solvents have different effects on the crystallization behavior of PVDF with the addition of MWNTs. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Self-assembly of palladium nanoparticles on functional multi-walled carbon nanotubes for formaldehyde oxidation

In this work, we report a concise method to self-assemble Pd nanoparticles onto the surface of MWNTs. Highly dispersed palladium nanoparticles are loaded on the MWNTs functionalized with mercaptobenzene moieties. The structure of the resulting Pd–fMWNT composite were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the results show that the chemically synthesized Pd nanoparticles were homogeneously dispersed and well-separated from one another on the functional MWNT surfaces. Cyclic voltammogram (CV) showed that Pd–fMWNT composite materials perform excellent electrocatalytic activity and long-term stability toward formaldehyde oxidation. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) revealed the strong interaction between fMWNTs and Pd facilitates the effective degree of electron dolocalization, and thus enhances the conductivity of the composite. The results imply that the self-organized Pd–fMWNT composite as a promising support material shows the excellent electrocatalytic activity and has a promising application potential in fuel cells and biosensors.     

Preparation of the Pt nanoparticles decorated poly(N-acetylaniline)/MWNTs nanocomposite and its electrocatalytic oxidation toward formaldehyde

In this work, a novel 3D nanocomposite is presented, which is consisted of poly(N-acetylaniline) (PAANI)/multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) nanorods (in which the inner layer was comprised of MWNTs and the outer layer was PAANI, forming a core-shell structure) and the decorated Pt nanoparticles. Electrochemical techniques (such as electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS)), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) are used to characterize the nanocomposite. The resulting Pt/PAANI/MWNTs nanocomposite can be served as a higher efficient catalyst for the electrochemical oxidation of formaldehyde at 0.41 V with the catalytic current of 0.73 mA, which was accompanied with about 45 mV potential negative shifts and two-fold increase in peak current comparison to the Pt/PAANI. These results reveal that the Pt/PAANI/MWNTs nanocomposite film is quite promising in the fuel cell applications.     

对甲酚在碳纳米管修饰电极上的电化学行为及其测定

研究了对甲酚在多壁碳纳米管修饰玻碳电极（MWNTs／GC）上的电化学行为。MWNTs／GC电极对对甲酚具有良好的电催化作用,相比玻碳电极对甲酚的氧化峰电位负移731TIV,峰电流约为玻碳电极上的4倍。同一电极重复扫描10次后,对甲酚在碳纳米管上的峰电流仍能达到最初电流的86．8％,而GC电极在相同浓度对甲酚中重复扫描3次后,峰电流降到最初电流的37．2％,表明碳纳米管提高了GC电极检测对甲酚的稳定性。研究了溶液pH值和扫描速率对对甲酚氧化的影响。并采用计时电流法研究了峰电流与对甲酚的浓度关系,结果显示峰电流与对甲酚的浓度在2．0×10^-7～2．0×10^-4mol／L范围内呈良好线性关系,检出限为9．3×10^-8mol／L（S／N=3）。     

Preparation of MWNTs/Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> composites and their mechanical and electrical properties

Since their discovery by Iijima[1], carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been the focus in novel materials research. Theoretical and experimental studies show[2-9] that CNTs have extraordinary mechanical and electrical properties. Krishnan et al.[2] have reported that the mean value of Young’s modulus of single-wall nanotubes (SWNTs) is 1.25 TPa. Yu et al.[3] measured Yang’s modulus of multi-wall nanotubes (MWNTs) between 270 and 950 GPa and breaking strength between 11 and 63 GPa. The ele…     

Experimental study on the heat transfer enhancement of MWNT-water nanofluid in a shell and tube heat exchanger

Heat transfer enhancement of multi-walled carbon natube(MWNT)/water nanofluid in a horizontal shell and tube heat exchanger has been studied experimentally. Carbon nanotubes were synthesized by the use of catalytic chemical vapor deposition (CCVD) method over Co–Mo/MgO nanocatalyst. Obtained MWNTs were purified using a three stage method. COOH functional groups were inserted for making the nanotubes hydrophilic and increasing the stability of the nanofluid. The results indicate that heat transfer enhances in the presence of multi-walled nanotubes in comparison with the base fluid.     

Carbon nanotube/polyaniline core-shell nanowires prepared by in situ inverse microemulsion

By the in situ inverse microemulsion, we prepared multi-walled carbon nanotubes/polyaniline composites (MWNTs/PANI). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the nanotubes were coated with a PANI layer. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra suggested that the π-bonded surface of the carbon nanotubes (CNTs) interact strongly with the conjugated structure of the PANI shell layer. The thermal stability and electrical conductivity of the MWNTs/PANI composites were examined by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and conventional four-probe method. In comparison with the pure PANI, the decomposition temperature of the MWNTs/PANI (1 wt% MWNTs) composites increased from 360 to 400 °C and the electrical conductivity of MWNTs/PANI (1 wt% MWNTs) composites was increased by one order of magnitude.     

Investigation on adsorption and regeneration performances of multi-walled carbon nanotubes by supercritical water technique

In this paper,adsorption and regeneration characteristics of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) used as adsorbent were investigated for the removal of 1,3-benzenediol (BDO) from water by the supercritical water (SCW) technique. FTIR,XPS,SEM and dispersion stability tests were used to characterize the structure and surface morphology of CNTs. The results showed that CNTs surfaces were slightly activated and strongly etched in supercritical water system. The adsorption capacity of SCW-treated CNTs was higher than that of raw CNTs. The adsorbed amounts for treated CNTs and raw CNTs samples at the same initial concentration of 60 mg/L were ca. 16.42 and 7.30 mg/g,respectively. The BDO adsorption of treated CNTs was due to the physical adsorption. The experimental data fit Freundlich isotherm model better than Langmuir one. The loaded adsorbent could be efficiently desorbed and regenerated by SCW technique. Therefore,SCW is a promising and environmentally friendly technique for the improvement of adsorption and regeneration of CNTs.     

MWNTs/PU复合微/纳米纤维的形态及力学性能

应用静电纺丝技术制备多壁碳纳米管/聚氨酯(MWNTs/PU)复合微/纳米纤维 , 将该复合纤维收集成无纺布薄膜 , 采用扫描电子显微镜 (SEM)和透射电子显微镜 (TEM)观察了纤维的微观形貌和结构 , 分别利用X射线衍射(XRD)和差示扫描量热法(DSC)测试了复合纤维的结晶行为及玻璃态转变温度 , 并测试了纤维薄膜的拉伸力学性能随 MWNTs含量的变化关系。结果表明 , 一定含量的 MWNTs能有效地分散于 PU 溶液中 , 并能成功地纺出 MWNTs/PU 复合微/纳米纤维。随 MWNTs在 PU 纤维中含量的增加 , 纤维的直径变细 , 复合纤维的玻璃态转变温度提高。在所研究的含量范围内 , 无纺布的拉伸强度和断裂伸长率随 MWNTs 含量的增加而有所增大。      

碳纳米管-双(4-氨基苯基醚)衍生物的合成

采用双(4-氨基苯基醚)(ODA)修饰多壁碳纳米管(MWNTs),合成出结构新颖的衍生物MWNT-ODA.FTIR分析表明,ODA分子通过酰胺键与MWNTs共价键接.MWNT-ODA中MWNTs的含量约为43.5%(质量含量),并可溶于N,N'-二甲基甲酰胺等极性有机溶剂.该衍生物可作为碳纳米管进一步功能化的基础材料,而且在高分子交联剂等方面具有潜在的应用前景.