Improved synthesis of carbon nanotubes with junctions and of single-walled carbon nanotubes

Pyrolysis of thiophene over nickel nanoparticles dispersed on silica is shown to yield Y-junction carbon nanotubes with smaller diameters than those obtained by the pyrolysis of organometallic-thiophene mixtures. In the presence of water vapour, the pyrolysis of organometallic-hydrocarbon mixtures yields single-walled nanotubes, as well as relatively narrow-diameter carbon nanotubes with Y-junctions. Pyrolysis-of organometallic-hydrocarbon mixtures, in the absence of water vapour, only gives nanotubes with T- and Y-junctions.

Optical trapping and transportation of carbon nanotubes made easy by decorating with palladium

Individual carbon nanotubes being substantially smaller than the wavelength of light, are not much responsive to optical manipulation. Here we demonstrate how decorating single-walled carbon nanotubes with palladium particles makes optical trapping and manipulation easier. Palladium decorated nanotubes (Pd/SWNTs) have higher effective dielectric constant and are trapped at much lower laser power level with greater ease. In addition, we report the transportation of Pd/SWNTs using an asymmetric line trap. Using this method carbon nanotubes can be transported in any desired direction with high transportation speed. (c) 2006 Optical Society of America.

High accuracy curve fits for chirality, length and diameter dependent initial modulus of single walled carbon nanotubes

Many previous studies regarding the estimation of mechanical properties of single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) report that, the modulus of SWCNTs is chirality, length and diameter dependent. Here, this dependence is quantitatively described in terms of high accuracy curve fit equations. These equations allow us to estimate the modulus of long SWCNTs (lengths of about 100-120 nm) if the value at the prescribed low lengths (lengths of about 5-10 nm) is known. This is supposed to save huge computational time and expense. Also, based on the observed length dependent behavior of SWCNT initial modulus, we predict that, SWCNT mechanical properties such as Young's modulus, secant modulus, maximum tensile strength, failure strength, maximum tensile strain and failure strain might also exhibit the length dependent behavior along with chirality and length dependence. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Probing the inter-tube transport in aligned and random multiwall carbon nanotubes

The temperature and magnetic field dependence of conductivity has been used to probe the inter-tube transport in multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs). The scanning electron microscopy images show highly aligned and random distribution of MWNTs. The conductivity in aligned carbon nanotube (ACNT) and random carbon nanotube (RCNT) samples at low temperature follows T-1/2 (at T < 8 K) and T-3/4 (at T > 8 K) dependence in accordance with the weak localization and electron-electron (e-e) interaction model. The values of diffusion coefficient in ACNT and RCNT are 0.25 x 10(-2) and 0.71 x 10(-2) cm(2) s(-1), respectively, indicating that larger number of inter-tube junctions in later enhances the bulk transport. The positive magnetoconductance (MC) data in both samples show that the weak localization contribution is dominant. However, the saturation of MC at higher fields and lower temperatures indicate that e-e interaction is quite significant in RCNT. The T-3/4 and T-1/2 dependence of inelastic scattering length (l(in)) in ACNT and RCNT samples show that the inelastic e-e scattering is more important in aligned tubes. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. doi:10.1063/1.3552911]

Prediction of nonlocal scaling parameter for armchair and zigzag single-walled carbon nanotubes based on molecular structural mechanics, nonlocal elasticity and wave propagation

Atomic vibration in the Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) gives rise to non-local interactions. In this paper, an expression for the non-local scaling parameter is derived as a function of the geometric and electronic properties of the rolled graphene sheet in single-walled CNTs. A self-consistent method is developed for the linearization of the problem of ultrasonic wave propagation in CNTs. We show that (i) the general three-dimensional elastic problem leads to a single non-local scaling parameter (e(0)), (ii) e(0) is almost constant irrespective of chirality of CNT in the case of longitudinal wave propagation, (iii) e(0) is a linear function of diameter of CNT for the case of torsional mode of wave propagation, (iv) e(0) in the case of coupled longitudinal-torsional modes of wave propagation, is a function which exponentially converges to that of axial mode at large diameters and to torsional mode at smaller diameters. These results are valid in the long-wavelength limit. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Structures, Stabilities and Strain in C60 and C70 Derivatives Fullerenes, Nanotubes and Carbon Nanostructures

The stabilities of a number of small adducts as well as larger hydrides of C-60 and C-70 are reported using semiempirical MO methods. The data are shown to be consistent with the nature of bond alternation in the parent fullerenes and strain effects in the cage systems.

Metal-billed and hollow carbon nanotubes obtained by the decomposition of metal-containing free precursor molecules

Vapor-phase pyrolysis of Fe(CO)(5) in the presence of another carbon source such as CO or Ca He yields iron-filled or hollow nanotubes depending on the relative concentration of the carbon source. Essentially single-walled nanotubes are obtained when the C6H6/Fe(CO)(5) ratio is high. Pyrolysis of metallocenes yields metal-filled nanotubes and hollow nanotubes are obtained when metallocenes are pyrolyzed along with benzene. Metal-decorated nanotubes are also obtained by this method.

Electrochemical tuning and mechanical resilience of single-wall carbon nanotubes

Single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) are fascinating systems exhibiting many novel physical properties. In this paper, we give a brief review of the structural, electronic, vibrational, and mechanical properties of carbon nanotubes. In situ resonance Raman scattering of SWNTs investigated under electrochemical biasing demonstrates that the intensity of the radial breathing mode varies significantly in a nonmonotonic manner as a function of the cathodic bias voltage, but does not change appreciably under anodic bias. These results can be quantitatively understood in terms of the changes in the energy gaps between the 1 D van Hove singularities in the electron density of states, arising possibly due to the alterations in the overlap integral of pi bonds between the p-orbitals of the adjacent carbon atoms. In the second part of this paper, we review our high-pressure X-ray diffraction results, which show that the triangular lattice of the carbon nanotube bundles continues to persist up to similar to10 GPa. The lattice is seen to relax just before the phase transformation, which is observed at similar to10 GPa. Further, our results display the reversibility of the 2D lattice symmetry even after compression up to 13 GPa well beyond the 5 GPa value observed recently. These experimental results explicitly validate the predicted remarkable mechanical resilience of the nanotubes.

Tailoring the microstructure and mechanical properties of arrays of aligned multiwall carbon nanotubes by utilizing different hydrogen concentrations during synthesis

We synthesize vertically aligned arrays of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in a chemical vapor deposition system with floating catalyst, using different concentrations of hydrogen in the gas feedstock. We report the effect of different hydrogen concentrations on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the resulting material. We show that a lower hydrogen concentration during synthesis results in the growth of stiffer CNT arrays with higher average bulk density. A lower hydrogen concentration also leads to the synthesis of CNT arrays that can reach higher peak stress at maximum compressive strain, and dissipate a larger amount of energy during compression. The individual CNTs in the arrays synthesized with a lower hydrogen concentration have, on average, larger outer diameters (associated with the growth of CNTs with a larger number of walls), but present a less uniform diameter distribution. The overall heights of the arrays and their strain recovery after compression have been found to be independent of the hydrogen concentration during growth. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Nonvolatile unipolar resistive switching in ultrathin films of graphene and carbon nanotubes

We report unipolar resistive switching in ultrathin films of chemically produced graphene (reduced graphene oxide) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes. The two-terminal devices with yield >99% are made at room temperature by forming continuous films of graphene of thickness similar to 20 nm on indium tin oxide coated glass electrode, followed by metal (Au or Al) deposition on the film. These memory devices are nonvolatile, rewritable with ON/OFF ratios up to similar to 10(5) and switching times up to 10 mu s. The devices made of MWNT films are rewritable with ON/OFF ratios up to similar to 400. The resistive switching mechanism is proposed to be nanogap formation and filamentary conduction paths. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Structural changes in single-walled carbon nanotubes under non-hydrostatic pressures: x-ray and Raman studies

Using in situ x-ray diffraction and Raman scattering techniques, we have investigated the behaviour of single-walled carbon nanotubes bundles under non-hydrostatic pressures. It is seen that the diffraction line corresponding to the two-dimensional triangular lattice in the bundles is not reversible for pressures beyond 5 GPa, in sharp contrast to earlier results under hydrostatic pressure conditions. Most interestingly, radial breathing and tangential Raman modes of the pressure-cycled samples from 21 and 30 GPa match very well with those of the starting sample. Raman and x-ray results put together clearly suggest that the ordering of tubes in the bundles is only marginally regained with a very short coherence length on decompression.

Thermally induced phase separation in P alpha MSAN/PMMA blends in presence of functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes: Rheology, morphology and electrical conductivity

The focus of this work is the evaluation and analysis of the state of dispersion of functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNTs), within different morphologies formed, in a model LCST blend (poly[(alpha-methylstyrene)-co-(acrylonitrile)]/poly(methyl-methacryla te), P alpha MSAN/PMMA). Blend compositions that are expected to yield droplet-matrix (85/15 P alpha MSAN/PMMA and 15/85 P alpha MSAN/PMMA, wt/wt) and co-continuous morphologies (60/40 P alpha MSAN/PMMA, wt/wt) upon phase separation have been combined with two types of CNTs; carboxylic acid functionalized (CNTCOOH) and polyethylene modified (CNTPE) up to 2 wt%. Thermally induced phase separation in the blends has been studied in-situ by rheology and dielectric (conductivity) spectroscopy in terms of morphological evolution and CNT percolation. The state of dispersion of CNTs has been evaluated by transmission electron microscopy. The experimental results indicate that the final blend morphology and the surface functionalization of CNT are the main factors that govern percolation. In presence of either of the CNTs, 60/40 P alpha MSAN/PMMA blends yield a droplet-matrix morphology rather than co-continuous and do not show any percolation. On the other hand, both 85/15 P alpha MSAN/PMMA and 15/85 P alpha MSAN/PMMA blends containing CNTPEs show percolation in the rheological and electrical properties. Interestingly, the conductivity spectroscopy measurements demonstrate that the 15/85 P alpha MSAN/PMMA blends with CNTPEs that show insulating properties at room temperature for the miscible blends reveal highly conducting properties in the phase separated blends (melt state) as a result of phase separation. By quenching this morphology, the conductivity can be retained in the blends even in the solid state. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Multi-Mode Phonon-Controlled Field Emission from Carbon Nanotubes: Modeling and Experiments

The main idea proposed in this paper is that in a vertically aligned array of short carbon nanotubes (CNTs) grown on a metal substrate, we consider a frequency dependent electric field, so that the mode-specific propagation of phonons, in correspondence with the strained band structure and the dispersion curves, take place. We perform theoretical calculations to validate this idea with a view of optimizing the field emission behavior of the CNT array. This is the first approach of its kind, and is in contrast to the the conventional approach where a DC bias voltage is applied in order to observe field emission. A first set of experimental results presented in this paper gives a clear indication that phonon-assisted control of field emission current in CNT based thin film diode is possible.

Electrochemical performance of mixed crystallographic phase nanotubes and nanosheets of titania and titania-carbon/silver composites for lithium-ion batteries

The role of homogeneity in ex situ grown conductive coatings and dimensionality in the lithium storage properties of TiO(2) is discussed here. TiO(2) nanotube and nanosheet comprising of mixed crystallographic phases of anatase and TiO(2) (B) have been synthesized by an optimized hydrothermal method. Surface modifications of TiO(2) nanotube are realized via coating the nanotube with Ag nanoparticles and amorphous carbon. The first discharge cycle capacity (at current rate = 10 mA g(-1)) for TiO(2) nanotube and nanosheet were 355 mAh g(-1) and 225 mAhg(-1), respectively. The conductive surface coating stabilized the titania crystallographic structure during lithium insertion-deinsertion processes via reduction in the accessibility of lithium ions to the trapping sites. The irreversible capacity is beneficially minimized from 110 mAh g(-1) for TiO(2) nanotubes to 96 mAh g(-1) and 57 mAhg(-1) respectively for Ag and carbon modified TiO(2) nanotubes. The homogeneously coated amorphous carbon over TiO(2) renders better lithium battery performance than randomly distributed Ag nanoparticles coated TiO(2) due to efficient hopping of electrons. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Selective synthesis of metallic and semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes

As-prepared single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) are generally mixtures of semiconducting and metallic species, the proportion of the former being around 67%. Since most applications of SWNTs are best served by semiconducting or metallic nanotubes, rather than by mixtures of the two, methods which would directly yield semiconducting and metallic SWNTs in pure form are desirable. In this article, we present the available methods for the direct synthesis of such SWNTs along with the methods available to separate semiconducting and metallic SWNTs from mixtures. We also discuss the synthesis of Y-junction carbon nanotubes.