Low-temperature synthesis of high-purity single-walled carbon nanotubes from alcohol

Comprehensive investigation of isotherm, RSM, and ANN modeling of CO2 capture by multi-walled carbon nanotube

Chemical vapor deposition was used to produce multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), which were modified by Fe-Ni/AC catalysts to enhance CO2 adsorption. In this study, a new realm of possibilities and potential advancements in CO2 capture technology is unveiled through the unique combination of cutting-edge modeling techniques and utilization of the recently synthesized Fe-Ni/AC catalyst adsorbent. SEM, BET, and FTIR were used to analyze their structure and morphology. The surface area of MWCNT was found to be 240 m2/g, but after modification, it was reduced to 11 m2/g. The modified MWCNT showed increased adsorption capacity with higher pressure and lower temperature, due to the introduction of new adsorption sites and favorable interactions at lower temperatures. At 25 °C and 10 bar, it reached a maximum adsorption capacity of 424.08 mg/g. The optimal values of the pressure, time, and temperature parameters were achieved at 7 bar, 2646 S and 313 K. The Freundlich and Hill models had the highest correlation with the experimental data. The Second-Order and Fractional Order kinetic models fit the adsorption results well. The adsorption process was found to be exothermic and spontaneous. The modified MWCNT has the potential for efficient gas adsorption in fields like gas storage or separation. The regenerated M-MWCNT adsorbent demonstrated the ability to be reused multiple times for the CO2 adsorption process, as evidenced by the study. In this study, a feed-forward MLP artificial neural network model was created using a back-propagation training approach to predict CO2 adsorption. The most suitable and efficient MLP network structure, selected for optimization, consisted of two hidden layers with 25 and 10 neurons, respectively. This network was trained using the Levenberg-Marquardt backpropagation algorithm. An MLP artificial neural network model was created, with a minimum MSE performance of 0.0004247 and an R2 value of 0.99904, indicating its accuracy. The experiment also utilized the blank spreadsheet design within the framework of response surface methodology to predict CO2 adsorption. The proximity between the Predicted R2 value of 0.8899 and the Adjusted R2 value of 0.9016, with a difference of less than 0.2, indicates a high level of similarity. This suggests that the model is exceptionally reliable in its ability to predict future observations, highlighting its robustness.

Ultra-long air-stability of n-type carbon nanotube films with low thermal conductivity and all-carbon thermoelectric generators

This report presents n-type single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) films with ultra-long air stability using a cationic surfactant and demonstrates that the n-type Seebeck coefficient can be maintained for more than two years, which is the highest stability reported thus far to the best of our knowledge. Furthermore, the SWCNT films exhibit an extremely low thermal conductivity of 0.62 ± 0.08 W/(m·K) in the in-plane direction, which is very useful for thin-film TEGs. We fabricated all-carbon-nanotube TEGs, which use p-type SWCNT films and the n-type SWCNT films developed, and their air-stability was investigated. The TEGs did not degrade for 160 days and exhibited an output voltage of 24 mV, with a maximum power of 0.4 µW at a temperature difference of 60 K. These results open a pathway to enable the widespread use of carbon nanotube TEGs as power sources in IoT sensors.

Surfactant-Assisted Isolation of Small-Diameter Boron-Nitride Nanotubes for Molding One-Dimensional van der Waals Heterostructures

Rolling two-dimensional (2D) materials into 1D nanotubes allows for greater functionality. Boron-nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) can serve as insulating 1D templates for the coaxial growth of guest nanotubes, without interfering with property characterization. However, their application as 1D templates has been greatly hindered by their poor dispersibility, inevitably resulting in the formation of thick bundles. Here we present the facile preparation of well-dispersed BNNT templates via surfactant dispersions and synthesis of 1D van der Waals heterostructures based on the BNNTs. Comprehensive microscopic analyses show the isolation of clean, high-quality BNNTs. Statistical analyses revealed that small-diameter double-walled BNNTs are highly enriched by chemical peeling of BN sidewalls through the sonication process. We further demonstrate that the isolated BNNTs can template the coaxial growth of carbon and MoS₂ nanotubes by using chemical vapor deposition. The present strategy can be applied to the synthesis of a variety of nanotubes, thereby allowing for their characterization.

Synthesis, Sorting, and Applications of Single-Chirality Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

The synthesis of high-quality chirality-pure single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) is vital for their applications. It is of high importance to modernize the synthesis processes to decrease the synthesis temperature and improve the quality and yield of SWCNTs. This review is dedicated to the chirality-selective synthesis, sorting of SWCNTs, and applications of chirality-pure SWCNTs. The review begins with a description of growth mechanisms of carbon nanotubes. Then, we discuss the synthesis methods of semiconducting and metallic conductivity-type and single-chirality SWCNTs, such as the epitaxial growth method of SWCNT ("cloning") using nanocarbon seeds, the growth method using nanocarbon segments obtained by organic synthesis, and the catalyst-mediated chemical vapor deposition synthesis. Then, we discuss the separation methods of SWCNTs by conductivity type, such as electrophoresis (dielectrophoresis), density gradient ultracentrifugation (DGC), low-speed DGC, ultrahigh DGC, chromatography, two-phase separation, selective solubilization, and selective reaction methods and techniques for single-chirality separation of SWCNTs, including density gradient centrifugation, two-phase separation, and chromatography methods. Finally, the applications of separated SWCNTs, such as field-effect transistors (FETs), sensors, light emitters and photodetectors, transparent electrodes, photovoltaics (solar cells), batteries, bioimaging, and other applications, are presented.

Statistical Verification of Anomaly in Chiral Angle Distribution of Air-Suspended Carbon Nanotubes

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) have long attracted attention due to their distinct physical properties, depending on their chiral structures (chiralities). Clarifying their growth mechanism is important toward perfect chirality-controlled bulk synthesis. Although a correlation between the chirality distribution and the carbon atom configuration at an open tube edge has been predicted theoretically, lack of sufficient statistical data on metallic and semiconducting SWCNTs prohibited its verification. Here, we report statistical verification of the chirality distribution of 413 as-grown individual air-suspended SWCNTs with a length of over 20 μm using broadband Rayleigh spectroscopy. After excluding the impact of the difference in the number of possible SWCNT structures per chiral angle interval, the abundance profile with chiral angle exhibits an increasing trend with a distinct anomaly at a chiral angle of approximately 20°. These results are well explained considering the growth rate depending on armchair-shaped site configurations at the catalyst-nanotube interface.

Carbon Nanofibers Grown in CaO for Self-Sensing in Mortar

Intelligent cementitious materials integrated with carbon nanofibers (CNFs) have the potential to be used as sensors in structural health monitoring (SHM). The difficulty in dispersing CNFs in cement-based matrices, however, limits the sensitivity to deformation (gauge factor) and strength. Here, we synthesise CNF by chemical vapour deposition on the surface of calcium oxide (CaO) and, for the first time, investigate this amphiphilic carbon nanomaterial for self-sensing in mortar. SEM, TEM, TGA, Raman and VSM were used to characterise the produced CNF@CaO. In addition, the electrical resistivity of the mortar, containing different concentrations of CNF with and without CaO, was measured using the four-point probe method. Furthermore, the piezoresistive response of the composite was quantified by means of compressive loading. The synthesised CNF was 5–10 μm long with an average diameter of ~160 nm, containing magnetic nanoparticles inside. Thermal decomposition of the CNF@CaO compound indicated that 26% of the material was composed of CNF; after CaO removal, 84% of the material was composed of CNF. The electrical resistivity of the material drops sharply at concentrations of 2% by weight of CNF and this drop is even more pronounced for samples with 1.2% by weight of washed CaO. This indicates a better dispersion of the material when the CaO is removed. The sensitivity to deformation of the sample with 1.2% by weight of CNF@CaO was quantified as a gauge factor (GF) of 1552, while all other samples showed a GF below 100. Its FCR amplitude can vary inversely up to 8% by means of cyclic compressive loading. The method proposed in this study provides versatility for the fabrication of carbon nanofibers on a tailored substrate to promote self-sensing in cementitious materials.

Recent Advances in Structure Separation of Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes and Their Application in Optics, Electronics, and Optoelectronics

Structural control of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) with uniform properties is critical not only for their property modulation and functional design but also for applications in electronics, optics, and optoelectronics. To achieve this goal, various separation techniques have been developed in the past 20 years through which separation of high-purity semiconducting/metallic SWCNTs, single-chirality species, and even their enantiomers have been achieved. This progress has promoted the property modulation of SWCNTs and the development of SWCNT-based optoelectronic devices. Here, the recent advances in the structure separation of SWCNTs are reviewed, from metallic/semiconducting SWCNTs, to single-chirality species, and to enantiomers by several typical separation techniques and the application of the corresponding sorted SWCNTs. Based on the separation procedure, efficiency, and scalability, as well as, the separable SWCNT species, purity, and quantity, the advantages and disadvantages of various separation techniques are compared. Combined with the requirements of SWCNT application, the challenges, prospects, and development direction of structure separation are further discussed.

Universal Map of Gas-Dependent Kinetic Selectivity in Carbon Nanotube Growth

Single-walled carbon nanotubes have been a candidate for outperforming silicon in ultrascaled transistors, but the realization of nanotube-based integrated circuits requires dense arrays of purely semiconducting species. In order to directly grow such nanotube arrays on wafers, control over kinetics and thermodynamics in tube-catalyst systems plays a key role, and further progress requires a comprehensive understanding of seemingly contradictory reports on the growth kinetics. Here, we propose a universal kinetic model that decomposes the growth rates of nanotubes into the adsorption and removal of carbon atoms on the catalysts, and we provide its quantitative verification by ethanol-based isotope labeling experiments. While the removal of carbon from catalysts dominates the growth kinetics under a low supply of precursors, resulting in chirality-independent growth rates, our kinetic model and experiments demonstrate that chiral angle-dependent growth rates emerge when sufficient amounts of carbon and etching agents are cosupplied. The kinetic maps, as a product of generalizing the model, include five types of kinetic selectivity that emerge depending on the absolute quantities of gases with opposing effects. Our findings not only resolve discrepancies existing in the literature but also offer rational strategies to control the chirality, length, and density of nanotube arrays for practical applications.

Highly conductive CNT aerogel synthesized via an inert FC-CVD technique: a step towards a greener approach

The accumulation of hydrogen gas molecules generated in situ as a byproduct of chemical reactions enhances the reducing ambient conditions of the otherwise inert FC-CVD reactor which improves the quality of the CNTs.

Interlayer Interactions in 1D Van der Waals Moiré Superlattices

Studying two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals (vdW) moiré superlattices and their interlayer interactions have received surging attention after recent discoveries of many new phases of matter that are highly tunable. Different atomistic registry between layers forming the inner and outer nanotubes can also form one-dimensional (1D) vdW moiré superlattices. In this review, experimental observations and theoretical perspectives related to interlayer interactions in 1D vdW moiré superlattices are summarized. The discussion focuses on double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWNTs), a model 1D vdW moiré system, and the authors highlight the new optical features emerging from the non-trivial strong interlayer coupling effect and the unique physics in 1D DWNTs. Future directions and questions in probing the intriguing physical phenomena in 1D vdW moiré superlattices such as, correlated physics in different 1D moiré systems beyond DWNTs are proposed and discussed.

Semiconductor nanochannels in metallic carbon nanotubes by thermomechanical chirality alteration

[Figure: see text].

One-dimensional van der Waals heterostructures: Growth mechanism and handedness correlation revealed by nondestructive TEM

We recently synthesized one-dimensional (1D) van der Waals heterostructures in which different atomic layers (e.g., boron nitride or molybdenum disulfide) seamlessly wrap around a single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) and form a coaxial, crystalized heteronanotube. The growth process of 1D heterostructure is unconventional-different crystals need to nucleate on a highly curved surface and extend nanotubes shell by shell-so understanding the formation mechanism is of fundamental research interest. In this work, we perform a follow-up and comprehensive study on the structural details and formation mechanism of chemical vapor deposition (CVD)-synthesized 1D heterostructures. Edge structures, nucleation sites, and crystal epitaxial relationships are clearly revealed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). This is achieved by the direct synthesis of heteronanotubes on a CVD-compatible Si/SiO₂ TEM grid, which enabled a transfer-free and nondestructive access to many intrinsic structural details. In particular, we have distinguished different-shaped boron nitride nanotube (BNNT) edges, which are confirmed by electron diffraction at the same location to be strictly associated with its own chiral angle and polarity. We also demonstrate the importance of surface cleanness and isolation for the formation of perfect 1D heterostructures. Furthermore, we elucidate the handedness correlation between the SWCNT template and BNNT crystals. This work not only provides an in-depth understanding of this 1D heterostructure material group but also, in a more general perspective, serves as an interesting investigation on crystal growth on highly curved (radius of a couple of nanometers) atomic substrates.

Heat source free water floating carbon nanotube thermoelectric generators

Thermoelectric generators (TEGs) produce electric power from environmental heat energy and are expected to play a key role in powering the Internet of things. However, they require a heat source to create a stable and irreversible temperature gradient. Overcoming these restrictions will allow the use of TEGs to proliferate. Therefore, we propose heat source-free water-floating carbon nanotube (CNT) TEGs. Output voltage and power are generated by the temperature gradient in the CNT films in which water pumping via capillary action leads to evaporation-induced cooling in selected areas. Furthermore, the output voltage and power increase when the films are exposed to sunlight and wind flow. These water-floating CNT TEGs demonstrate a pathway for developing wireless monitoring systems for water environments.

One-Dimensional (1D) Nanostructured Materials for Energy Applications

At present, the world is at the peak of production of traditional fossil fuels. Much of the resources that humanity has been consuming (oil, coal, and natural gas) are coming to an end. The human being faces a future that must necessarily go through a paradigm shift, which includes a progressive movement towards increasingly less polluting and energetically viable resources. In this sense, nanotechnology has a transcendental role in this change. For decades, new materials capable of being used in energy processes have been synthesized, which undoubtedly will be the cornerstone of the future development of the planet. In this review, we report on the current progress in the synthesis and use of one-dimensional (1D) nanostructured materials (specifically nanowires, nanofibers, nanotubes, and nanorods), with compositions based on oxides, nitrides, or metals, for applications related to energy. Due to its extraordinary surface-volume relationship, tunable thermal and transport properties, and its high surface area, these 1D nanostructures have become fundamental elements for the development of energy processes. The most relevant 1D nanomaterials, their different synthesis procedures, and useful methods for assembling 1D nanostructures in functional devices will be presented. Applications in relevant topics such as optoelectronic and photochemical devices, hydrogen production, or energy storage, among others, will be discussed. The present review concludes with a forecast on the directions towards which future research could be directed on this class of nanostructured materials.

CVD Conditions for MWCNTs Production and Their Effects on the Optical and Electrical Properties of PPy/MWCNTs, PANI/MWCNTs Nanocomposites by In Situ Electropolymerization

In this work, the optimal conditions of synthesizing and purifying carbon nanotubes (CNTs) from ferrocene were selected at the first stage, where decomposition time, argon fluxes, precursor amounts, decomposition temperature (at 1023 K and 1123 K), and purification process (HNO₃ + H₂SO₄ or HCl + H₂O₂), were modulated through chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and compared to commercial CNTs. The processing temperature at 1123 K and the treatment with HCl + H₂O₂ were key parameters influencing the purity, crystallinity, stability, and optical/electrical properties of bamboo-like morphology CNTs. Selected multiwalled CNTs (MWCNTs), from 1 to 20 wt%, were electropolymerized through in-situ polarization with conductive polymers (CPs), poly(aniline) (PANI) and poly(pyrrole) (PPy), for obtaining composites. In terms of structural stability and electrical properties, MWCNTs obtained by CVD were found to be better than commercial ones for producing CPs composites. The CNTs addition in both polymeric matrixes was of 6.5 wt%. In both systems, crystallinity degree, related to the alignment of PC chains on MWCNTs surface, was improved. Electrical conductivity, in terms of the carrier density and mobility, was adequately enhanced with CVD CNTs, which were even better than the evaluated commercial CNTs. The findings of this study demonstrate that synergistic effects among the hydrogen bonds, stability, and conductivity are better in PANI/MWCNTs than in PPy/MWCNTs composites, which open a promissory route to prepare materials for different technological applications.

Vertically Aligned Carbon Nanotube Membranes: Water Purification and Beyond

Vertically aligned carbon nanotube (VACNT) membranes have attracted significant attention for water purification owing to their ultra-high water permeability and antibacterial properties. In this paper, we critically review the recent progresses in the synthesis of VACNT arrays and fabrication of VACNT membrane methods, with particular emphasis on improving water permeability and anti-biofouling properties. Furthermore, potential applications of VACNT membranes other than water purification (e.g., conductive membranes, electrodes in proton exchange membrane fuel cells, and solar electricity–water generators) have been introduced. Finally, future outlooks are provided to overcome the limitations of commercialization and desalination currently faced by VACNT membranes. This review will be useful to researchers in the broader scientific community as it discusses current and new trends regarding the development of VACNT membranes as well as their potential applications.

Zeolite Nanosheets Stabilize Catalyst Particles to Promote the Growth of Thermodynamically Unfavorable, Small-Diameter Carbon Nanotubes

A challenge in the synthesis of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) is the lack of control over the formation and evolution of catalyst nanoparticles and the lack of control over their size or chirality. Here, zeolite MFI nanosheets (MFI-Ns) are used to keep cobalt (Co) nanoparticles stable during prolonged annealing conditions. Environmental transmission electron microscopy (ETEM) shows that the MFI-Ns can influence the size and shape of nanoparticles via particle/support registry, which leads to the preferential docking of nanoparticles to four or fewer pores and to the regulation of the SWCNT synthesis products. The resulting SWCNT population exhibits a narrow diameter distribution and SWCNTs of nearly all chiral angles, including sub-nm zigzag (ZZ) and near-ZZ tubes. Theoretical simulations reveal that the growth of these unfavorable tubes from unsupported catalysts leads to the rapid encapsulation of catalyst nanoparticles bearing them; their presence in the growth products suggests that the MFI-Ns prevent nanoparticle encapsulation and prologue ZZ and near-ZZ SWCNT growth. These results thus present a path forward for controlling nanoparticle formation and evolution, for achieving size- and shape-selectivity at high temperature, and for controlling SWCNT synthesis.

One-dimensional van der Waals heterostructures

We present the experimental synthesis of one-dimensional (1D) van der Waals heterostructures, a class of materials where different atomic layers are coaxially stacked. We demonstrate the growth of single-crystal layers of hexagonal boron nitride (BN) and molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) crystals on single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). For the latter, larger-diameter nanotubes that overcome strain effect were more readily synthesized. We also report a 5-nanometer-diameter heterostructure consisting of an inner SWCNT, a middle three-layer BN nanotube, and an outer MoS₂ nanotube. Electron diffraction verifies that all shells in the heterostructures are single crystals. This work suggests that all of the materials in the current 2D library could be rolled into their 1D counterparts and a plethora of function-designable 1D heterostructures could be realized.

Chirality Pure Carbon Nanotubes: Growth, Sorting, and Characterization

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) have been attracting tremendous attention owing to their structure (chirality) dependent outstanding properties, which endow them with great potential in a wide range of applications. The preparation of chirality-pure SWCNTs is not only a great scientific challenge but also a crucial requirement for many high-end applications. As such, research activities in this area over the last two decades have been very extensive. In this review, we summarize recent achievements and accumulated knowledge thus far and discuss future developments and remaining challenges from three aspects: controlled growth, postsynthesis sorting, and characterization techniques. In the growth part, we focus on the mechanism of chirality-controlled growth and catalyst design. In the sorting part, we organize and analyze existing literature based on sorting targets rather than methods. Since chirality assignment and quantification is essential in the study of selective preparation, we also include in the last part a comprehensive description and discussion of characterization techniques for SWCNTs. It is our view that even though progress made in this area is impressive, more efforts are still needed to develop both methodologies for preparing ultrapure (e.g., >99.99%) SWCNTs in large quantity and nondestructive fast characterization techniques with high spatial resolution for various nanotube samples.

Viscosity of nanofluids containing anisotropic particles: A critical review and a comprehensive model

Compared to nanofluids with spherical particles, nanofluids with anisotropic particles possess higher thermal conductivity and present a better enhancement option in heat transfer applications. The viscosity variation of such nanofluids becomes of great importance in evaluating their pumping power in thermal systems. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the experimental and theoretical studies on the viscosity of nanofluids with anisotropic particles. The internal mechanisms of viscosity evolution are investigated considering three aspects: particle clustering, particle interactions, and Brownian motion. In experimental studies, important factors including classification and synthetic methods for particle preparation, base fluid, particle loading, particle shape and size, temperature, p H, shear stress and electric field are investigated in detail. Classical theoretical models and empirical relations of the effective viscosity of suspensions are discussed. Some crucial factors such as maximum particle packing fraction, fractal index and intrinsic viscosity models, are examined. A comparison of predictions and experimental results shows that the classical models underestimate suspension viscosity. A comprehensive combination of the modified Krieger-Dougherty (K-D) model with intrinsic viscosity relations for different aspect ratios is suggested for low particle loadings, and the modified Maron-Pierce model (M-D) is recommended for high particle loadings. Possible directions for future works are discussed.

Facile growth of carbon nanotubes using microwave ovens: the emerging application of highly efficient domestic plasma reactors

The facile growth of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) using microwave radiation reveals a new way for the cost-effective synthesis of CNTs for a wide range of applications. In this regard, domestic microwave ovens can be used as convenient plasma reactors to grow CNTs in a very fast, simple, energy-saving and solvent-free manner. The special heating mechanism of microwaves can not only accomplish the fast growth of high-density CNT brushes within tens of seconds, but also eliminate the need for a flammable gaseous carbon source and an expensive furnace. By carefully selecting the substrate and catalyst, low-temperature growth of CNTs can also be achieved on low-melting point organic polymers at atmospheric pressure. Highly localized heating near the catalyst nanoparticles was observed under microwave irradiation, and this phenomenon can be utilized to grow CNTs at desired locations on the substrate to fabricate CNT-based nanoelectronics in situ. Finally, the microwave growth of CNTs is highly adaptive to different carbon sources, substrates and catalysts, showing enormous potential to generate functionalized CNT-based composites for emerging advanced applications.

Efficient chemical vapour deposition and arc discharge system for production of carbon nano-tubes on a gram scale

Three indigenous systems-the underwater arc discharge setup, the inert environment arc discharge system, and the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) system-for the gram-scale production of carbon nanotubes were designed and fabricated. In this study, a detailed description of the development and fabrication of these systems is given. Carbon nanotubes were synthesized by using all the three systems, and comparative analyses of the morphology, composition, and purity were done. The synthesized materials were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Raman spectroscopy. The scanning electron microscopy images show agglomerated tubed fiberlike structures in samples from the arc discharge setup, whereas samples from the CVD system do not show any tubelike structures decorated around the carbon nanotubes. Structural investigations done using powder XRD revealed the presence of the hexagonal crystallographic phase. Furthermore, the presence of the G and 2D bands reveals sp² hybridization and confirms the presence of carbon nanotubes in samples. In conclusion, carbon nanotubes synthesized via the CVD system is of high quality and quantity. Moreover, the CVD is a cheap, easy to operate, and energy-saving synthesis method compared with the other two methods.

A low-temperature technique and new strategy for the dual growth of carbon nanotubes and nanorods through the confinement of explosive materials inside a porous structure

In this paper, we report a low temperature technique and new strategy for the dual growth of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and nanorods (CNRs) with alumina nanoparticles to avoid the high temperature required for CNT and CNR production and their assembling behaviour. In this trend, X-ray diffraction and thermal analysis indicated that the porous system of aluminium species was prepared and saturated with the crystalline structure of ammonium nitrate to act as a solid explosive composite and caused alcohol decomposition inside a pressurized vessel at 250 °C. TEM images and the Raman results confirmed that the CNTs had grown at 250 °C through the decomposition of methanol inside the boehmite structure. Also, the TEM images revealed that the growth of CNTs depended on the ratio between the methanol and the solid explosive. By calcination at 600 °C, the Raman results indicated that the CNTs became more ordered and had fewer defects. In the case of changing methanol to ethanol, the results indicated that methanol was more favorable than ethanol for growing CNTs by this technique. Also, it indicated that ethanol was a good source for producing carbon nanorods. Finally, we concluded that this was probably the first time that carbon nanotubes or nanorods had been prepared at 250 °C and their aggregations prevented through their dual growth with alumina nanoparticles. This dual growth approach is a very promising strategy for building homogeneous nanocomposites based on carbon nanotubes and nanorods.

In this paper, we report a low temperature technique and new strategy for the dual growth of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and nanorods (CNRs) with alumina nanoparticles to avoid the high temperature required for CNT and CNR production.

Carbon Nanotube-Quicklime Nanocomposites Prepared Using a Nickel Catalyst Supported on Calcium Oxide Derived from Carbonate Stones

Carbon nanotube-quicklime nanocomposites (CQNs) have been synthesized via the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of n-hexane using a nickel metal catalyst supported on calcined carbonate stones at temperatures of 600–900 °C. The use of a Ni/CaO(10 wt%) catalyst required temperatures of at least 700 °C to obtain XRD peaks attributable to carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The CQNs prepared using a Ni/CaO catalyst of various Ni contents showed varying diameters and the remaining catalyst metal particles could still be observed in the samples. Thermogravimetric analysis of the CQNs showed that there were two major weight losses due to the amorphous carbon decomposition (300–400 °C) and oxidation of CNTs (400–600 °C). Raman spectroscopy results showed that the CQNs with the highest graphitization were synthesized using Ni/CaO (10 wt%) at 800 °C with an I_G/I_D ratio of 1.30. The cyclic voltammetry (CV) of screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) modified with the CQNs showed that the performance of nanocomposite-modified SPCEs were better than bare SPCEs. When compared to carboxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes or MWNT–COOH-modified SPCEs, the CQNs synthesized using Ni/CaO (10 wt%) at 800 °C gave higher CV peak currents and comparable electron transfer, making it a good alternative for screen-printed electrode modification.

Strength of carbon nanotubes depends on their chemical structures

Single-walled carbon nanotubes theoretically possess ultimate intrinsic tensile strengths in the 100-200 GPa range, among the highest in existing materials. However, all of the experimentally reported values are considerably lower and exhibit a considerable degree of scatter, with the lack of structural information inhibiting constraints on their associated mechanisms. Here, we report the first experimental measurements of the ultimate tensile strengths of individual structure-defined, single-walled carbon nanotubes. The strength depends on the chiral structure of the nanotube, with small-diameter, near-armchair nanotubes exhibiting the highest tensile strengths. This observed structural dependence is comprehensively understood via the intrinsic structure-dependent inter-atomic stress, with its concentration at structural defects inevitably existing in real nanotubes. These findings highlight the target nanotube structures that should be synthesized when attempting to fabricate the strongest materials.

Primary Nucleation-Dominated Chemical Vapor Deposition Growth for Uniform Graphene Monolayers on Dielectric Substrate

Direct chemical vapor deposition growth of high quality graphene on dielectric substrates holds great promise for practical applications in electronics and optoelectronics. However, graphene growth on dielectrics always suffers from the issues of inhomogeneity and/or poor quality. Here, we first reveal that a novel precursor-modification strategy can successfully suppress the secondary nucleation of graphene to evolve ultrauniform graphene monolayer film on dielectric substrates. A mechanistic study indicates that the hydroxylation of silica substrate weakens the binding between graphene edges and substrate, thus realizing the primary nucleation-dominated growth. Field-effect transistors based on the graphene films show exceptional electrical performance with the charge carrier mobility up to 3800 cm² V^-1 s^-1 in air, which is much higher than those reported results of graphene films grown on dielectrics.

Thermal Conversion of Ethanol into Carbon Nanotube Coatings with Adjusted Packing Density

The ability to control the growth of carbon nanotube (CNT) coatings with adjusted packing density is essential for the design of functional devices with an emphasized interaction with the surrounding medium. This challenge is addressed in the present study using an innovative single-pot chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process based on the thermal conversion of ethanol to CNTs. Benefitting from the relatively safe and easily bio-derived carbon source is enabled using a cobalt catalyst and a magnesium oxide promoter. The resulting innovative direct-liquid injection CVD opens up new opportunities for low-temperature CNT deposition. The simultaneous formation of a cobalt catalyst along the process results in a sustainable CNT growth that is substantially emphasized with the deposition time. Furthermore, the formation of these catalyst nanoparticles in the porous structure nucleates new CNTs and results in a substantial film densification. Relative to densely packed CNTs that feature a density exceeding 1000 mg/cm³, the investigated process enables an adjusted density from 0.1 to 20 mg/cm³ with no significant impact on the quality of the obtained multiwalled CNTs. This unprecedented control over the packing density of the CNT film paves the way toward the development of high-performance functional nanocomposite coatings.

Super-resolution fluorescence imaging of carbon nanotubes using a nonlinear excitonic process

Highly efficient exciton-exciton annihilation process unique to one-dimensional systems is utilized for super-resolution imaging of air-suspended carbon nanotubes. Through the comparison of fluorescence signals in linear and sublinear regimes at different excitation powers, we extract the efficiency of the annihilation processes using conventional confocal microscopy. Spatial images of the annihilation rate of the excitons have resolution beyond the diffraction limit. We investigate excitation power dependence of the annihilation processes by experiment and Monte Carlo simulation, and the resolution improvement of the annihilation images can be quantitatively explained by the superlinearity of the annihilation process. We have also developed another method in which the cubic dependence of the annihilation rate on exciton density is utilized to achieve further sharpening of single nanotube images.

Single-step growth of graphene and graphene-based nanostructures by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition

The realization of many promising technological applications of graphene and graphene-based nanostructures depends on the availability of reliable, scalable, high-yield and low-cost synthesis methods. Plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) has been a versatile technique for synthesizing many carbon-based materials, because PECVD provides a rich chemical environment, including a mixture of radicals, molecules and ions from hydrocarbon precursors, which enables graphene growth on a variety of material surfaces at lower temperatures and faster growth than typical thermal chemical vapor deposition. Here we review recent advances in the PECVD techniques for synthesis of various graphene and graphene-based nanostructures, including horizontal growth of monolayer and multilayer graphene sheets, vertical growth of graphene nanostructures such as graphene nanostripes with large aspect ratios, direct and selective deposition of monolayer and multi-layer graphene on nanostructured substrates, and growth of multi-wall carbon nanotubes. By properly controlling the gas environment of the plasma, it is found that no active heating is necessary for the PECVD growth processes, and that high-yield growth can take place in a single step on a variety of surfaces, including metallic, semiconducting and insulating materials. Phenomenological understanding of the growth mechanisms are described. Finally, challenges and promising outlook for further development in the PECVD techniques for graphene-based applications are discussed.

Direct CVD Growth of Graphene on Traditional Glass: Methods and Mechanisms

Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) on catalytic metal surfaces is considered to be the most effective way to obtain large-area, high-quality graphene films. For practical applications, a transfer process from metal catalysts to target substrates (e.g., poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), glass, and SiO₂ /Si) is unavoidable and severely degrades the quality of graphene. In particular, the direct growth of graphene on glass can avoid the tedious transfer process and endow traditional glass with prominent electrical and thermal conductivities. Such a combination of graphene and glass creates a new type of glass, the so-called "super graphene glass," which has attracted great interest from the viewpoints of both fundamental research and daily-life applications. In the last few years, great progress has been achieved in pursuit of this goal. Here, these growth methods as well as the specific growth mechanisms of graphene on glass surfaces are summarized. The typical techniques developed include direct thermal CVD growth, molten-bed CVD growth, metal-catalyst-assisted growth, and plasma-enhanced growth. Emphasis is placed on the strategy of growth corresponding to the different natures of glass substrates. A comprehensive understanding of graphene growth on nonmetal glass substrates and the latest status of "super graphene glass" production are provided.

Confinement Effect of Sub-nanometer Difference on Melting Point of Ice-Nanotubes Measured by Photoluminescence Spectroscopy

Melting point is independent of size and shape in bulk materials, but it exhibits a size dependence when the material size is extremely small. In this study, we measured the melting point of water confined in single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) with 16 different chiralities, which ranged from 0.95 to 1.26 nm in diameter, and revealed the details of the SWCNT diameter dependence on the melting points. The melting points were probed by utilizing the change of photoluminescence (PL) emission wavelength of SWCNTs, which encapsulated water, and the relation between the emission wavelength, and the water phase was confirmed by first-principles calculations. The periodicity of the melting point variation with SWCNT diameter came from the discrete change of ice-nanotube (ice-NT) diameter, and in addition, even ice-NT with an identical diameter exhibited different melting points due to the slight difference of the inner space size of the encapsulating SWCNTs. The present results agreed with those of the molecular dynamics simulation (Takaiwa, D.; et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 2008, 105, 39-43). It was elucidated that the melting point of the nanomaterial changed sensitively to the atomic structure and the confinement space size.

How a Solid Catalyst Determines the Chirality of the Single-Wall Carbon Nanotube Grown on It

Although the growth of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) with a chirality selectivity up to 90% has been successfully achieved using solid catalysts ( Yang , F. Nature , 2014 , 510 , 522 ; Zhang , S. ; Nature , 2017 , 543 , 234 , etc.), the underlying mechanism that governs the chirality selection is far from clear. Here we propose a mechanism to understand how a solid catalyst particle determines the structure of the SWCNT grown on it. The mechanism has to satisfy three criteria: (i) thermodynamic selection of SWCNTs that possess a structural symmetry the same as that of the catalyst surface; (ii) kinetic elimination of the achiral SWCNTs with extremely low growth rates; (iii) rough control over the catalyst particle size leads to SWCNTs with only one or a few dominant chiralities. Besides the deep understanding on the mechanisms of experimentally synthesized (12, 6) and (8, 4) SWCNTs, the preference growth of other SWCNTs of the (2 n, n) family, such as the (10, 5) or (6, 3) SWCNTs, by using catalyst surface with a 5- or 3-fold symmetry is predicted. Such a simple three-criteria mechanism deepens our understanding of the selective growth of SWCNTs and provides a guideline for catalyst design for controlled SWCNT synthesis.

Chiral-selective etching effects on carbon nanotube growth at edge carbon atoms

Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) utilizing metal cluster nanoparticle catalysts is commonly used to synthesize carbon nanotubes (CNT), with oxygen-containing species such as water or alcohol included in the feedstock for enhanced yield. However, the etching effect of these additives on the growth mechanism has rarely been investigated, despite evidence suggesting that etching potentially affects the chirality distribution of product CNTs. We used quantum chemical methods to study how water-based etchant radicals (OH and H) may enhance the chiral selectivity during CVD growth using CNT cap models. Chemical reactivities of the caps with the etchant radicals were evaluated using density functional theory (DFT). It was found that the reactivities on the cap edges correlate with the chirality of the caps. These results suggest that proper selection of etchant species can provide opportunities for selective chirality control of the product CNTs. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Effects of Water Absorption on the Fiber–Matrix Interfacial Shear Strength of Carbon Nanotube-Grafted Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polyamide Resin

Carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastics (CFRTPs) are expected to be used for the structural parts of automobiles and aircraft due to their mechanical properties, such as high specific stiffness, high specific strength, short molding times and high recyclability. The fiber/matrix interface of the composite plays an important role in transmitting stress from the matrix to the reinforcing fibers. It was reported that grafting of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the carbon fiber can improve the fiber/matrix interfacial property. We have reported that CNTs, which are directly grafted onto carbon fiber using Ni as the catalyst by the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method, can improve the fiber/matrix interfacial shear strength (IFSS) of carbon fiber/polyamide 6 (PA6). For practical use of CFRTPs, it is important to clarify the effects of water absorption on the mechanical properties of the composite material. In this study, the effects of water absorption on the fiber–matrix interfacial shear strength (IFSS) of carbon fiber reinforced polyamide resin and CNT-grafted carbon fiber reinforced polyamide resin were clarified by the single fiber pull-out test for specimens preserved in air, then in water for 24 h and re-dried after water absorption. The IFSS of carbon fiber/PA6 was significantly decreased by water absorption. In contrast, CNT-grafted carbon fiber/PA6 showed smaller degradation of the IFSS by water absorption.

Feedstock-dependent nitrogen configurations of nitrogen-doped single-walled carbon nanotubes in a CVD process

The modification of nitrogen configurations is a viable way to control the electronic properties of nitrogen-doped single-walled carbon nanotubes (N-doped SWCNTs). N-doped SWCNTs were synthesized by a conventional chemical vapor deposition process with a mixed carbon/nitrogen (C/N) feedstock. While higher feedstock flow rates promote the formation of encapsulated N2 molecules, lower flow rates show a predominance of pyridinic and graphitic nitrogen structures as revealed by X-ray photoemission spectroscopy. Therefore, the nitrogen doping in the sp2 carbon network can be controlled by the flow rate of the C/N feedstock.

Revisiting behaviour of monometallic catalysts in chemical vapour deposition synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes

A catalyst is essential for the controlled synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) by chemical vapour deposition (CVD). However, it is difficult to observe these nanosized particles in their original forms and in a statistical manner, which has resulted in a vague understanding of the behaviours of these particles. We present a technique to solve this long-standing issue. The key is to have an MEMS fabricated suspended SiO₂ layer, which is thick enough to support catalyst deposition and nanotube growth but thin enough to allow electron beams to transit. On a 20 nm SiO₂ film, we confirm that catalyst can be observed at an atomic resolution, and the catalyst-SWNT junctions can also be routinely observed. As a demonstration of this technique, we revisited the behaviour of monometallic catalysts through a systematic investigation of the size, chemical state and crystal structure of particles before and after high-temperature CVD. The active catalyst is found to follow a tangential growth mode, while the inactive catalyst is divided into three mechanisms: size growth, metal loss and inappropriate precipitation. The latter two mechanisms were not possible to observe by previous techniques.

Fabrication, characterization, and high temperature surface enhanced Raman spectroscopic performance of SiO2 coated silver particles

We present a systematic study on the fabrication, characterization and high temperature surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) performance of SiO₂ coated silver nanoparticles (Ag@SiO₂) on a flat substrate, aiming to obtain a thermally robust SERS substrate for monitoring high temperature reactions. We confirm that a 10-15 nm SiO₂ coating provides a structure stability up to 900 °C without significantly sacrificing the enhancement factor, while the uncoated particle cannot retain the SERS effect above 500 °C. The finite difference time domain (FDTD) simulation results supported that the SiO₂ coating almost has no influence on the distribution of the electric field but only physically trapped the most enhanced spot inside the coating layer. On this thermally robust substrate, we confirmed that the SERS of horizontally aligned single walled carbon nanotubes is stable at elevated temperatures, and demonstrate an in situ Raman monitoring of the atmosphere of the annealing process of nanodiamonds, in which the interconverting process of C-C bonds is unambiguously observed. We claim that this is a first experimental proof that the high temperature SERS effect can be preserved and applied in a chemical reaction at temperature above 500 °C. This versatile substrate also enables novel opportunities for observing growth, etching, and structure transformation of many 0D and 2D nano-materials.

A review of theoretical study of graphene chemical vapor deposition synthesis on metals: nucleation, growth, and the role of hydrogen and oxygen

Graphene has attracted intense research interest due to its extraordinary properties and great application potential. Various methods have been proposed for the synthesis of graphene, among which chemical vapor deposition has drawn a great deal of attention for synthesizing large-area and high-quality graphene. Theoretical understanding of the synthesis mechanism is crucial for optimizing the experimental design for desired graphene production. In this review, we discuss the three fundamental steps of graphene synthesis in details, i.e. (1) decomposition of carbon feedstocks and formation of various active carbon species, (2) nucleation, and (3) attachment and extension. We provide a complete scenario of graphene synthesis on metal surfaces at atomistic level by means of density functional theory, molecular dynamics (MD), Monte Carlo (MC) and their combination and interface with other simulation methods such as quantum mechanical molecular dynamics, density functional tight binding molecular dynamics, and combination of MD and MC. We also address the latest investigation of the influences of the hydrogen and oxygen on the synthesis and the quality of the synthesized graphene.

Carbon Dioxide Promotes Dehydrogenation in the Equimolar C2 H2 -CO2 Reaction to Synthesize Carbon Nanotubes

The equimolar C₂ H₂ -CO₂ reaction has shown promise for carbon nanotube (CNT) production at low temperatures and on diverse functional substrate materials; however, the electron-pushing mechanism of this reaction is not well demonstrated. Here, the role of CO₂ is explored experimentally and theoretically. In particular, ¹³ C labeling of CO₂ demonstrates that CO₂ is not an important C source in CNT growth by thermal catalytic chemical vapor deposition. Consistent with this experimental finding, the adsorption behaviors of C₂ H₂ and CO₂ on a graphene-like lattice via density functional theory calculations reveal that the binding energies of C₂ H₂ are markedly higher than that of CO₂ , suggesting the former is more likely to incorporate into CNT structure. Further, H-abstraction by CO₂ from the active CNT growth edge would be favored, ultimately forming CO and H₂ O. These results support that the commonly observed, promoting role of CO₂ in CNT growth is due to a CO₂ -assisted dehydrogenation mechanism.

Catalytic CVD synthesis of boron nitride and carbon nanomaterials - synergies between experiment and theory

Low-dimensional carbon and boron nitride nanomaterials - hexagonal boron nitride, graphene, boron nitride nanotubes and carbon nanotubes - remain at the forefront of advanced materials research. Catalytic chemical vapour deposition has become an invaluable technique for reliably and cost-effectively synthesising these materials. In this review, we will emphasise how a synergy between experimental and theoretical methods has enhanced the understanding and optimisation of this synthetic technique. This review examines recent advances in the application of CVD to synthesising boron nitride and carbon nanomaterials and highlights where, in many cases, molecular simulations and quantum chemistry have provided key insights complementary to experimental investigation. This synergy is particularly prominent in the field of carbon nanotube and graphene CVD synthesis, and we propose here it will be the key to future advances in optimisation of CVD synthesis of boron nitride nanomaterials, boron nitride - carbon composite materials, and other nanomaterials generally.