Tensile properties of a boron/nitrogen-doped carbon nanotube–graphene hybrid structure

• Kang Xia,
• Haifei Zhan,
• Ye Wei and
• Yuantong Gu

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2014, 5, 329–336, doi:10.3762/bjnano.5.37

• GNHS with 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, 2.0%, 2.5% and 3.5% of N- dopants fracture at either the right or the left end of the structure. The atomic configurations of the GNHS with 2% of N-dopants are presented in Figure 4a-d. Before the initiation of failure, a shearing of the CNTs and an elongation of bonds are

• configurations of the case with 0.75%B and 0.75%N at different strains. Surprisingly, the hybrid structure is found to fracture around four CNTs. After failure, the upper layer is found to break at the outermost two CNTs at the right end, while the lower layer fractures at the second outermost two CNTs. Such

• failure of the hybrid structure around the middle region is also witnessed. As shown in Figure 8f, the top and bottom layers of GNHS-1.5%N1.5%B fracture simultaneously around the two connecting CNTs. In all investigated cases, the self-adhesive behavior between the dangling layers and the bulked

Modeling and optimization of atomic layer deposition processes on vertically aligned carbon nanotubes

• Nuri Yazdani,
• Vipin Chawla,
• Eve Edwards,
• Vanessa Wood,
• Hyung Gyu Park and
• Ivo Utke

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2014, 5, 234–244, doi:10.3762/bjnano.5.25

• guidelines; titania, TiO2; Introduction Recent advances in the synthesis and processing of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have enabled the prospect of their integration into existing technologies that exploit the high surface area of mesoporous ceramic films [1]. Over the last 10 years, ceramic coated CNTs have

• ceramic coating of the CNTs. Atomic layer deposition (ALD) is a highly attractive option for coating CNTs because it enables a wide range of ceramics and metals to be deposited conformally on arbitrary surface topologies with precise control of layer thickness [1][18]. However, vertically aligned CNT

• functionalization [19][20][21][22][23][24]. In practice, however, chemical vapor deposition (CVD) grown CNTs are prone to a sufficient density of surface defect sites to allow for the nucleation of the ceramic at discrete points along the surface of the CNT. The ceramic then grows from these nucleation sites until

En route to controlled catalytic CVD synthesis of densely packed and vertically aligned nitrogen-doped carbon nanotube arrays

• Slawomir Boncel,
• Sebastian W. Pattinson,
• Valérie Geiser,
• Milo S. P. Shaffer and
• Krzysztof K. K. Koziol

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2014, 5, 219–233, doi:10.3762/bjnano.5.24

• nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (N-CNTs). A mixture of toluene (main carbon source), pyrazine (1,4-diazine, nitrogen source) and ferrocene (catalyst precursor) was used as the injection feedstock. To optimize conditions for growing the most dense and aligned N-CNT arrays, we investigated the influence of

• key parameters, i.e., growth temperature (660, 760 and 860 °C), composition of the feedstock and time of growth, on morphology and properties of N-CNTs. The presence of nitrogen species in the hot zone of the quartz reactor decreased the growth rate of N-CNTs down to about one twentieth compared to

• the growth rate of multi-wall CNTs (MWCNTs). As revealed by electron microscopy studies (SEM, TEM), the individual N-CNTs (half as thick as MWCNTs) grown under the optimal conditions were characterized by a superior straightness of the outer walls, which translated into a high alignment of dense

Synthesis of boron nitride nanotubes from unprocessed colemanite

• Saban Kalay,
• Zehra Yilmaz and
• Mustafa Çulha

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2013, 4, 843–851, doi:10.3762/bjnano.4.95

• used to synthesize boron nitride nanotubes (BNNT)s [3][4]. BNNTs, structural analogoues of carbon nanotube (CNT)s, have superior properties than CNTs due to their robust structure which resists high temperatures and harsh chemical conditions. They also have a high hydrogen storage capacity due to the

• ionic nature of the B–N bond [5]. In contrast to CNTs, the BNNTs have a constant and wide band-gap of 5.5 eV. Therefore, they are electrical isolators independent from their size or chirality. In recent studies, it has been indicated that the hydrogen storage capacity of BNNTs is two times greater than

• that of CNTs [6]. It has been theoretically demonstrated that BNNTs can capture ions selectively creating superhydrophobic surfaces [7][8]. Since hexagonal boron nitrides (h-BNs) have a sp2 hybridization, the BNNTs can interact with polymers possessing aromatic rings via π-π interaction. Therefore, the

Size-dependent characteristics of electrostatically actuated fluid-conveying carbon nanotubes based on modified couple stress theory

• Mir Masoud Seyyed Fakhrabadi,
• Abbas Rastgoo and
• Mohammad Taghi Ahmadian

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2013, 4, 771–780, doi:10.3762/bjnano.4.88

• and structures made from different metallic and non-metallic materials, carbon nanomaterials play a special role. For instance, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) possess extraordinary chemical, physical, mechanical and electrical properties. Thus, since their discovery in 1991 by Iijima [13], they have

• attracted a lot of scientists and researchers all over the world to study their characteristics as well as their actual and potential applications. A mathematical formulation of the applicability of CNTs in NEMS was conducted by Dequesnes et al. [14]. They applied a model with one degree of freedom in order

• to study the manipulation of CNTs by using electrostatic actuation and vdW interactions. The results revealed that the vdW force played an important role in the deflection and pull-in behaviors of the CNTs. In electrostatic actuation, a voltage is applied to two electrodes with a gap in-between. In

AFM as an analysis tool for high-capacity sulfur cathodes for Li–S batteries

• Renate Hiesgen,
• Seniz Sörgel,
• Rémi Costa,
• Linus Carlé,
• Ines Galm,
• Natalia Cañas,
• Brigitta Pascucci and
• K. Andreas Friedrich

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2013, 4, 611–624, doi:10.3762/bjnano.4.68

• capacity of approximately 1000 mA·g(sulfur)−1 [19][20]. Another approach is based on vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (CNTs) grown on a nickel foil without any binder. To date, these binder-free CNT cathodes contain the highest published total ratio of sulfur (90%) in an electrode [21]. The advantage of

Functionalization of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes

• Eloise Van Hooijdonk,
• Carla Bittencourt,
• Rony Snyders and
• Jean-François Colomer

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2013, 4, 129–152, doi:10.3762/bjnano.4.14

• , Materia Nova Research Center, Mons, Belgium 10.3762/bjnano.4.14 Abstract This review focuses and summarizes recent studies on the functionalization of carbon nanotubes oriented perpendicularly to their substrate, so-called vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VA-CNTs). The intrinsic properties of

• individual nanotubes make the VA-CNTs ideal candidates for integration in a wide range of devices, and many potential applications have been envisaged. These applications can benefit from the unidirectional alignment of the nanotubes, the large surface area, the high carbon purity, the outstanding electrical

• conductivity, and the uniformly long length. However, practical uses of VA-CNTs are limited by their surface characteristics, which must be often modified in order to meet the specificity of each particular application. The proposed approaches are based on the chemical modifications of the surface by

Electronic and transport properties of kinked graphene

• Jesper Toft Rasmussen,
• Tue Gunst,
• Peter Bøggild,
• Antti-Pekka Jauho and
• Mads Brandbyge

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2013, 4, 103–110, doi:10.3762/bjnano.4.12

• nanoribbons (GNR) [2]. The electronic structure of GNRs depends on width, direction and edge structure – all parameters that to some degree can be controlled. GNRs can be formed by etching [2], by unzipping carbon nanotubes (CNTs) [3], or ultimately be grown with atomic-scale precision by using self-assembly

• a (25,25) nanotube. Experiments by Ruffieux et al. [38] compare hydrogen adsorption on C60 molecules, CNTs, and graphite to show that reactivity is increased with curvature. In our case we find that the local electronic density of states changes little for the atoms on the pristine bent graphene

Low-dose patterning of platinum nanoclusters on carbon nanotubes by focused-electron-beam-induced deposition as studied by TEM

• Xiaoxing Ke,
• Carla Bittencourt,
• Sara Bals and
• Gustaaf Van Tendeloo

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2013, 4, 77–86, doi:10.3762/bjnano.4.9

• nanotubes; FEBID; nanocluster; platinum; patterning; radiation-induced nanostructures; TEM; Introduction Hybrid nanostructures consisting of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) decorated with metal nanoclusters enable access to various electrical and catalytic properties. Therefore, they are considered as building

• blocks for nanoscopic electronic devices [1]. In such hybrid nanostructures, metals are often deposited onto the CNTs by thermal evaporation [2][3][4][5][6] or wet chemistry [7], which results in a non-site-specific covering. However, when using such structures for nanodevice fabrication, specific sites

• of the CNTs need to be functionalized in order to create components with specific properties. For instance, in order to fabricate CNT contacts on electrodes, Pd is thermally evaporated onto both ends by using shadowing masks [8]. In earlier reports, it has been shown that Au nanoclusters can be site

Low-temperature synthesis of carbon nanotubes on indium tin oxide electrodes for organic solar cells

• Andrea Capasso,
• Luigi Salamandra,
• Aldo Di Carlo,
• John M. Bell and
• Nunzio Motta

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2012, 3, 524–532, doi:10.3762/bjnano.3.60

• solar cells based on poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM), the MWCNT-enhanced electrodes are found to improve the charge-carrier extraction from the photoactive blend, thanks to the additional percolation paths provided by the CNTs. The work function of as

• , such as thermal [8] and solvent annealing [9], or the use of additives in the blend preparation [10]. Along with fullerenes, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have also been suggested as promising materials to boost solar cell PCE, thanks to their excellent electrical properties and to a favorable aspect ratio

• [11]. In fact, CNTs were initially suggested as a replacement for fullerene [12], because of their ability to create percolation paths through the heterostructure, while providing electron–hole dissociation sites. Being that the electron mobility in fullerenes is rather low [13][14][15], the initial

Conducting composite materials from the biopolymer kappa-carrageenan and carbon nanotubes

• Ali Aldalbahi,
• Jin Chu,
• Peter Feng and
• Marc in het Panhuis

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2012, 3, 415–427, doi:10.3762/bjnano.3.48

• Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00931, USA 10.3762/bjnano.3.48 Abstract Conducting composite films containing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were prepared by using the biopolymer kappa-carrageenan (KC) as a dispersant. Rheological studies indicated that 0.5% w/v was the appropriate KC concentration for

• dispersing CNTs. Our results showed that multiwalled nanotubes (MWNTs) required less sonic energy than single-walled nanotubes (SWNTs) for the dispersion process to be complete. Films prepared by vacuum filtration exhibited higher conductivity and improved mechanical characteristics compared to those

• prepared by evaporative casting. All composite films displayed sensitivity to water vapour, but MWNT films were more sensitive than SWNT films. Keywords: biopolymers; carbon nanotubes; carrageenan; composite materials; conductivity; mechanical; rheology; Introduction Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have

Glassy carbon electrodes modified with multiwalled carbon nanotubes for the determination of ascorbic acid by square-wave voltammetry

• Sushil Kumar and
• Victoria Vicente-Beckett

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2012, 3, 388–396, doi:10.3762/bjnano.3.45

• , which results in poor selectivity and reproducibility, thus limiting the use of bare GCEs in quantitative measurements. Presently there are increasing reports on the use of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in electroanalysis [10]. CNTs may be multiwalled or single-walled depending on the number of layers of

• carbon atoms in the nanotubes [11][12]. CNTs have unique geometric, mechanical, electronic and chemical properties. They possess a high aspect ratio (length/diameter) [13] and large surface areas (typically 200–300 m2/g) and, hence, potentially high electroactivity [14]. The defects present at the open

• ends of the CNTs have been observed to produce relatively low peak potentials and high peak currents in the voltammetry of several electroactive molecules at electrodes modified with CNTs [14][15]. Nafion, a perfluorosulfonated polymer with cation-exchange properties, has been used to stably confine

Structural, electronic and photovoltaic characterization of multiwalled carbon nanotubes grown directly on stainless steel

• Luca Camilli,
• Manuela Scarselli,
• Silvano Del Gobbo,
• Paola Castrucci,
• Eric Gautron and
• Maurizio De Crescenzi

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2012, 3, 360–367, doi:10.3762/bjnano.3.42

• silicon substrate plays an important role in the production of electron–hole pairs. Keywords: carbon nanotubes; electronic properties; heterojunction; photovoltaic; stainless steel; Introduction Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) possess unique electronic, mechanical and optical properties that make them

• interesting for fundamental studies as well as practical applications [1]. Among the various synthesis techniques, chemical vapour deposition is preferred in the field of electronics, since it allows for the direct growth of CNTs on substrates [2]. CNTs are generally synthesized on Si or Si/SiO2 substrates

• been made to grow CNTs on SS substrates with [4][5] or without [6][7] the addition of an external catalyst. In particular, we have shown that the growth of high quality multiwalled CNTs on SS in the absence of an external catalyst is possible because the nanoscale roughness and the metallic nature of

Surface functionalization of aluminosilicate nanotubes with organic molecules

• Wei Ma,
• Weng On Yah,
• Hideyuki Otsuka and
• Atsushi Takahara

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2012, 3, 82–100, doi:10.3762/bjnano.3.10

• ratios and ability to form network structures. It is no doubt that nanotubes with reactive surfaces and a reliable supply are preferred for the application as scaffold of organic molecules. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) play an important role in the nanotube family. However, the surface of CNTs is inert for

Approaches to nanostructure control and functionalizations of polymer@silica hybrid nanograss generated by biomimetic silica mineralization on a self-assembled polyamine layer

• Jian-Jun Yuan and
• Ren-Hua Jin

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2011, 2, 760–773, doi:10.3762/bjnano.2.84

• -driven self-assembly of preformed PSS-wrapped CNTs. In our case, the presence of IPA in the media was assumed to play an essential role in the formation of the pyramidlike structure since the use of neat water did not give this kind of surface structure. However, the detailed formation mechanism is still

Generation and agglomeration behaviour of size-selected sub-nm iron clusters as catalysts for the growth of carbon nanotubes

• Ravi Joshi,
• Benjamin Waldschmidt,
• Jörg Engstler,
• Rolf Schäfer and
• Jörg J. Schneider

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2011, 2, 734–739, doi:10.3762/bjnano.2.80

• °C, no CNT growth is observed. Keywords: carbon nanotubes; CNT growth; metal clusters; size selected clusters; Introduction Controlling the individual diameters of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is still one of the major challenges in current CNT research, and it is particularly important as it determines

• crucially their physical and electronic properties. High quality single-walled and double-walled CNTs are currently prepared on a large scale with the aid of nm-sized transition metal catalysts, by using high-temperature chemical vapour deposition (CVD) techniques above 750 °C, despite the fact that several

• crystal [6]. Size-defined, sub-nm, ligand-free metal clusters would be an interesting synthetic alternative to obtain CNTs with controlled diameter. However, such small metal clusters can only be generated by gas-phase techniques, typically in a ligand-free environment as naked clusters. A controlled

Optical properties of fully conjugated cyclo[n]thiophenes – An experimental and theoretical approach

• Elena Mena-Osteritz,
• Fan Zhang,
• Günther Götz,
• Peter Reineker and
• Peter Bäuerle

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2011, 2, 720–726, doi:10.3762/bjnano.2.78

• of cyclo[n]thiophenes was developed. By using linear pentameric quinquethiophene L5T as a building block, a series of individual macrocycles CnT, from C10T to an unprecedented size up to C35T, was obtained in an excellent overall yield of around 60%. For the first time, CnTs including members with an

Dynamics of capillary infiltration of liquids into a highly aligned multi-walled carbon nanotube film

• Sławomir Boncel,
• Krzysztof Z. Walczak and
• Krzysztof K. K. Koziol

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2011, 2, 311–317, doi:10.3762/bjnano.2.36

• ; Introduction Wettability of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and highly aligned carbon nanotube (HACNT) films is an important aspect in numerous technologies including manufacture of composites [1], fabrication of constantly/interchangeably hydrophobic or hydrophilic materials [2][3], nanofluidic devices [4] or sponges

• for non-polar liquids [5]. One of the cutting edge areas of research exploiting CNTs is nanomedicine where the interface of CNTs with a liquid environment is essential, e.g., subcutaneous glucose sensors [6], microcatheters [7] or tissue engineering materials [8]. Until now, physical compatibility of

• liquids and pristine CNTs was determined by dispersibility of randomly oriented and highly entangled, hydrophobic nanotubes. Wetting of CNTs in non-polar to medium polar liquids (a key factor enabling their dispersibility) can be gained generally via two routes: (1) By control of the CNTs dimensions

Studies towards synthesis, evolution and alignment characteristics of dense, millimeter long multiwalled carbon nanotube arrays

• Pitamber Mahanandia,
• Jörg J. Schneider,
• Martin Engel,
• Bernd Stühn,
• Somanahalli V. Subramanyam and
• Karuna Kar Nanda

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2011, 2, 293–301, doi:10.3762/bjnano.2.34

• , India 10.3762/bjnano.2.34 Abstract We report the synthesis of aligned arrays of millimeter long carbon nanotubes (CNTs), from benzene and ferrocene as the molecular precursor and catalyst respectively, by a one-step chemical vapor deposition technique. The length of the grown CNTs depends on the

• reaction temperature and increases from ~85 µm to ~1.4 mm when the synthesis temperature is raised from 650 to 1100 °C, while the tube diameter is almost independent of the preparation temperature and is ~80 nm. The parallel arrangement of the CNTs, as well as their tube diameter can be verified

• spectroscopically by small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) studies. Based on electron diffraction scattering (EDS) studies of the top and the base of the CNT films, a root growth process can be deduced. Keywords: carbon nanotubes; characterization; synthesis; Introduction CNTs have been extensively studied in

Zirconium nanoparticles prepared by the reduction of zirconium oxide using the RAPET method

• Michal Eshed,
• Swati Pol,
• Aharon Gedanken and
• Mahalingam Balasubramanian

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2011, 2, 198–203, doi:10.3762/bjnano.2.23

• the application of metallic Zr is the use of Zr nanoparticles (NP) as catalysts for growing TWCNTs (two or three graphene layer tubing) [5]. The presence of the zirconium as a catalyst ensures an effective method for the synthesis of high purity and good quality CNTs. The best known process for the

Electrochemical behavior of dye-linked L-proline dehydrogenase on glassy carbon electrodes modified by multi-walled carbon nanotubes

• Haitao Zheng,
• Leyi Lin,
• Yosuke Okezaki,
• Ryushi Kawakami,
• Haruhiko Sakuraba,
• Toshihisa Ohshima,
• Keiichi Takagi and
• Shin-ichiro Suye

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2010, 1, 135–141, doi:10.3762/bjnano.1.16

• enzyme, specific immobilization strategies, including electron mediators, should be considered [10][11][12]. In the last decade, the use of nano materials, especially carbon nanotubes (CNTs), in the construction of enzyme biosensors has received considerable attention. Because of their excellent

• mechanical and electrochemical properties [13][14], CNTs can mediate the electron transfer between an electrode and a number of electroactive substances such as hydrogen peroxide, ascorbic acid and dopamine, and accelerate surface electrochemical reactions [15]. Direct electron transfer between the active

• site of several biomacromolecules and the electrode surface can also be set up with the aid of CNTs [16][17]. Because the application of CNTs can dramatically improve the sensitivity of electrochemical sensors, more and more analytical chemists have focused their attention on CNTs-modified electrodes