Electrically, Chemically, and Photonically Powered Torsional and Tensile Actuation of Hybrid Carbon Nanotube Yarn Muscles

Artificial muscles are of practical interest, but few types have been commercially exploited. Typical problems include slow response, low strain and force generation, short cycle life, use of electrolytes, and low energy efficiency. We have designed guest-filled, twist-spun carbon nanotube yarns as electrolyte-free muscles that provide fast, high-force, large-stroke torsional and tensile actuation. More than a million torsional and tensile actuation cycles are demonstrated, wherein a muscle spins a rotor at an average 11,500 revolutions/minute or delivers 3% tensile contraction at 1200 cycles/minute. Electrical, chemical, or photonic excitation of hybrid yarns changes guest dimensions and generates torsional rotation and contraction of the yarn host. Demonstrations include torsional motors, contractile muscles, and sensors that capture the energy of the sensing process to mechanically actuate.

Obtaining of Nanoapatite in Ti-7.5Mo Surface After Nanotube Growth

Titanium and their alloys have been used for biomedical applications due their excellent mechanical properties, corrosion resistance and biocompatibility. However, they are considered bioinerts materials because when they are inserted into the human body they are cannot form a chemical bond with bone. In several studies, the authors have attempted to modify their characteristic with treatments that changes the material surface. The purpose of this work was to evaluate obtaining of nanoapatite after growing of the nanotubes in surface of Ti-7.5Mo alloy. Alloy was obtained from c.p. titanium and molibdenium by using an arc-melting furnace. Ingots were submitted to heat treatment and they were cold worked by swaging. Nanotubes were processed using anodic oxidation of alloy in electrolyte solution. Surfaces were investigated using scanning electron microscope (SEM), FEG-SEM and thin-film x-ray diffraction. The results indicate that nanoapatite coating could form on surface of Ti-7.5Mo experimental alloy after nanotubes growth.

Effects of carbon nanotube fillers dispersion on mechanical behavior of phenolic/carbon nanotube nanocomposite

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Fibroblast functionality on novel Ti-30Ta nanotube array

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Inactivation and disposal of by-products from Mycobacterium smegmatis by photoelectrocatalytic oxidation using Ti/TiO2-Ag nanotube electrodes

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Highly ordered TiO2 nanotube arrays and photoelectrocatalytic oxidation of aromatic amine

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Reduced in vitro immune response on titania nanotube arrays compared to titanium surface

Material surfaces that provide biomimetic cues, such as nanoscale architectures, have been shown to alter cell/biomaterial interactions. Recent studies have identified titania nanotube arrays as strong candidates for use in interfaces on implantable devices due to their ability to elicit improved cellular functionality. However, limited information exists regarding the immune response of nanotube arrays. Thus, in this study, we have investigated the short- and long-term immune cell reaction of titania nanotube arrays. Whole blood lysate (containing leukocytes, thrombocytes and trace amounts of erythrocytes), isolated from human blood, were cultured on titania nanotube arrays and biomedical grade titanium (as a control) for 2 hours and 2 and 7 days. In order to determine the in vitro immune response on titania nanotube arrays, immune cell functionality was evaluated by cellular viability, adhesion, proliferation, morphology, cytokine/chemokine expression, with and without lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and nitric oxide release. The results presented in this study indicate a decrease in short- and long-term monocyte, macrophage and neutrophil functionality on titania nanotube arrays as compared to the control substrate. This work shows a reduced stimulation of the immune response on titania nanotube arrays, identifying this specific nanoarchitecture as a potentially optimal interface for implantable biomedical devices. © 2013 The Royal Society of Chemistry.

Carbon nanotube-reinforced siloxane-PMMA hybrid coatings with high corrosion resistance

Siloxane-polymethyl methacrylate hybrid films containing functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were deposited by dip-coating on carbon steel substrates from a sol prepared by radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate and 3-methacryloxy propyl-trimethoxysilane, followed by hydrolytic co-polycondensation of tetraethoxysilane. The correlation between the structural properties and corrosion protection efficiency was studied as a function of the molar ratio of nanotubes carbon to silicon, varied in the range between 0.1% and 5%. 29Si nuclear magnetic resonance and thermogravimetric measurements have shown that hybrids containing carbon nanotubes have a similar degree of polycondensation and thermal stability as the undoped matrix and exhibit and excellent adhesion to the substrate. Microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results revealed a very good dispersion of carbon nanotubes in the hybrid matrix and the presence of carboxylic groups allowing covalent bonding with the end-siloxane nodes. Potentiodynamic polarization curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy results demonstrate that CNTs containing coatings maintain the excellent corrosion protection efficiency of the hybrids, showing even a superior performance in acidic solution. The nanocomposite structure acts as efficient corrosion barrier, increasing the total impedance by 4 orders of magnitude and reducing the current densities by more than 3 orders of magnitude, compared to the bare steel electrode. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Efficient Photoelectrochemical Reduction of Nitrite to Ammonium and Nitrogen Containing Gaseous Species Using Ti/TiO2 Nanotube Electrodes

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Generation and Concomitant Organic Dye Oxidation under TiO2 Nanotube

The present work describes the photoelectrochemical hydrogen generation during a photodegradation of an organic compound. For this, it was chosen the reactive black 5 dye as a model of organic pollutant and its oxidation under TiO2 nanotube in a two compartment cell. The photoelectrocatalysis is conducted in 0.1 mol L-1 Na2SO4 pH 6 medium under photoanode biased at +1.0 V (SCE) and activated by UV and visible light using 150W Xe-Arc lamp (Oriel) and 125 W Hg lamp (Osram). The concomitant hydrogen production was monitored at cathodic compartment using a Pt cathode. Using optimized condition of Na2SO4 0.1 mol L-1 pH 6 as supporting electrolyte, applied potential of +1.0V it was verified 100% of discoloration and 72% of TOC removal of 1.0 x 10(-5) mol L-1 Reactive Black 5 dye after 120 min of treatment (rate constant of 10.6 x10(-2) min(-1)). The concomitant hydrogen generation was 44% in this condition.

Formation of titania nanotube arrays by anodisation: DOE approach

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Confinement effects and why carbon nanotube bundles can work as gas sensors

Carbon nanotubes have been at the forefront of nanotechnology, leading not only to a better understanding of the basic properties of charge transport in one dimensional materials, but also to the perspective of a variety of possible applications, including highly sensitive sensors. Practical issues, however, have led to the use of bundles of nanotubes in devices, instead of isolated single nanotubes. From a theoretical perspective, the understanding of charge transport in such bundles, and how it is affected by the adsorption of molecules, has been very limited, one of the reasons being the sheer size of the calculations. A frequent option has been the extrapolation of knowledge gained from single tubes to the properties of bundles. In the present work we show that such procedure is not correct, and that there are qualitative differences in the effects caused by molecules on the charge transport in bundles versus isolated nanotubes. Using a combination of density functional theory and recursive Green's function techniques we show that the adsorption of molecules randomly distributed onto the walls of carbon nanotube bundles leads to changes in the charge density and consequently to significant alterations in the conductance even in pristine tubes. We show that this effect is driven by confinement which is not present in isolated nanotubes. Furthermore, a low concentration of dopants randomly adsorbed along a two-hundred nm long bundle drives a change in the transport regime; from ballistic to diffusive, which can account for the high sensitivity to different molecules.

High Dispersivity Bacterial Cellulose/Carbon Nanotube Nanocomposite for Sensor Applications

Bacterial cellulose (BC) has established to be a remarkably versatile biomaterial and can be used in wide variety of applied scientific endeavors, especially for medical devices. In fact, biomedical devices recently have gained a significant amount of attention because of increased interesting tissue-engineered products for both wound care and the regeneration of damaged or diseased organs. The architecture of BC materials can be engineered over length scales ranging from nano to macro by controlling the biofabrication process, besides, surface modifications bring a vital role in in vivo performance of biomaterials. In this work, bacterial cellulose fermentation was modified with carbon nanotubes for sensor applications and diseases diagnostic. SEM images showed that polymer modified-carbon nanotube (PVOH-carbon nanotube) produced well dispersed system and without agglomeration. Influences of carbon nanotube in bacterial cellulose were analyzed by FTIR. TGA showed higher thermal properties of developed bionanocomposites.

Benzoxazine Resin/Carbon Nanotube Nanostructured Composite's Degradation Kinetic

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)