Growth, Characterization and Applications of Nanotubes (2nd Edition)

A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Synthesis, Interfaces and Nanostructures".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 May 2024) | Viewed by 8684

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Guest Editor
Department of Exact and Natural Sciences, Institute of Interdisciplinary Research, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, Blvd. Carol I, No. 11, 700506 Iasi, Romania
Interests: nanotubes; electronic transport; photocatalysis; environment electronics; UV light sources
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the last few decades, the great demand for device miniaturization has attracted the attention of researchers focused on the growth, modification, properties, and applications of one-dimensional nanostructures, such as nanotubes. Nanotubes are cylindrical structures with diameters of 1–100 nm. In recent years, nanotubes synthesized from different kinds of materials (i.e., carbon (CNTs), titanium (NTAs), silicon carbide, boron nitride (BNNTs), etc.) have been selected as promising alternative materials for various applications, based on their characteristic properties—for example, CNTs are electrically insulating, semiconducting or have metallic conductance; NTAs have large area/volume ratio and faster electron transport, as well as low recombination rate of charge carriers, which enable increased photocatalytic efficiency and durability; SiC nanotubes can act as lightweight fillers in nanocomposites, catalyst supports, environment electronics, and hydrogen storage; BNNTs are used in the study of photoluminiscence, cathodoluminescence, absorption spectra, etc.

This Special Issue of Nanomaterials will attempt to cover the recent advancements in nanotube materials for electronic devices, photocatalytic devices, environment electronics devices, UV light source devices, etc.

Dr. Marius Dobromir
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • nanotubes
  • carbon nanotube
  • electronic transport
  • photocatalysis
  • environment electronics
  • UV light sources
  • CNTs
  • NTAs
  • BNNTs

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 5060 KiB  
Article
Heat-Annealed Zinc Oxide on Flexible Carbon Nanotube Paper and Exposed to Gradient Light to Enhance Its Photoelectric Response
by Jih-Hsin Liu and Pi-Yu Shen
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(9), 792; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14090792 - 2 May 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1433
Abstract
Buckypaper (BP), a flexible and porous material, exhibits photovoltaic properties when exposed to light. In this study, we employed radio frequency (RF) sputtering of zinc oxide (ZnO) followed by rapid thermal annealing to enhance the photovoltaic response of BP. We investigated the impact [...] Read more.
Buckypaper (BP), a flexible and porous material, exhibits photovoltaic properties when exposed to light. In this study, we employed radio frequency (RF) sputtering of zinc oxide (ZnO) followed by rapid thermal annealing to enhance the photovoltaic response of BP. We investigated the impact of various sputtering parameters, such as the gas flow ratio of argon to oxygen and deposition time, on the morphology, composition, resistivity, and photovoltaic characteristics of ZnO-modified BP. Additionally, the photovoltaic performance of the samples under different illumination modes and wavelengths was compared. It was found that optimal sputtering conditions—argon to oxygen flow ratio of 1:2, deposition time of 20 min, and power of 100 watts—resulted in a ZnO film thickness of approximately 45 nanometers. After annealing at 400 °C for 10 min, the ZnO-modified BP demonstrated a significant increase in photocurrent and photovoltage, along with a reduction in resistivity, compared to unmodified BP. Moreover, under gradient illumination, the ZnO-modified BP exhibited a photovoltage enhancement of 14.70-fold and a photocurrent increase of 13.86-fold, compared to uniform illumination. Under blue light, it showed a higher photovoltaic response than under other colors. The enhancement in photovoltaic response is attributed to the formation of a Schottky junction between ZnO and BP, an increased carrier concentration gradient, and an expanded light absorption spectrum. Our results validate that ZnO sputtering followed by annealing is an effective method for modifying BP for photovoltaic applications such as solar cells and photodetectors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Growth, Characterization and Applications of Nanotubes (2nd Edition))
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14 pages, 5121 KiB  
Article
Porous-Wall Titania Nanotube Array Layers: Preparation and Photocatalytic Response
by Dumitru Luca, Marius Dobromir, George Stoian, Adrian Ciobanu and Mihaela Luca
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(23), 3000; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13233000 - 22 Nov 2023
Viewed by 1223
Abstract
Electrochemical anodization is already a well-established process, owing to its multiple benefits for creating high-grade titanium dioxide nanotubes with suitable characteristics and tunable shapes. Nevertheless, more research is necessary to fully comprehend the basic phenomena at the anode-electrolyte interface during anodization. In a [...] Read more.
Electrochemical anodization is already a well-established process, owing to its multiple benefits for creating high-grade titanium dioxide nanotubes with suitable characteristics and tunable shapes. Nevertheless, more research is necessary to fully comprehend the basic phenomena at the anode-electrolyte interface during anodization. In a recent paper, we proposed the use of sawtooth-shaped voltage pulses for Ti anodization, which controls the pivoting point of the balance between the two processes that compete to create nanotubes during a self-organization process: oxide etching and oxidation. Under these conditions, pulsed anodization clearly reveals the history of nanotube growth as recorded in the nanotube morphology. We show that by selecting the suitable electrolyte and electrical discharge settings, a nanoporous structure may be generated as a repeating pattern along the nanotube wall axis. We report the findings in terms of nanotube morphology, crystallinity, surface chemistry, photocatalytic activity, and surface hydrophilicity as they relate to the electrical parameters of electrochemical anodization. Aside from their fundamental relevance, our findings could lead to the development of a novel form of TiO2 nanotube array layer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Growth, Characterization and Applications of Nanotubes (2nd Edition))
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12 pages, 2866 KiB  
Article
Eco-Friendly Dispersant-Free Purification Method of Boron Nitride Nanotubes through Controlling Surface Tension and Steric Repulsion with Solvents
by Minsung Kang, Jungmo Kim, Hongjin Lim, Jaehyoung Ko, Hong-Sik Kim, Yongho Joo, Se Youn Moon, Se Gyu Jang, Eunji Lee and Seokhoon Ahn
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(18), 2593; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13182593 - 19 Sep 2023
Viewed by 1709
Abstract
Boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) were purified without the use of a dispersant by controlling the surface tension and steric repulsion of solvent molecules. This method effectively enhanced the difference in solubilities of impurities and BNNTs. The purification process involved optimizing the alkyl-chains of [...] Read more.
Boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) were purified without the use of a dispersant by controlling the surface tension and steric repulsion of solvent molecules. This method effectively enhanced the difference in solubilities of impurities and BNNTs. The purification process involved optimizing the alkyl-chains of alcohol solvents and adjusting the concentration of alcohol solvent in water to regulate surface tension and steric repulsion. Among the solvents tested, a 70 wt% t-butylalcohol in water mixture exhibited the highest selective isolation of BNNTs from impurities based on differences in solubilities. This favorable outcome was attributed to the surface tension matching with BNNTs, steric repulsion from bulky alkyl chain structures, and differences in interfacial energy between BNNT–liquid and impurity–liquid interfaces. Through this optimized purification process, impurities were removed to an extent of up to 93.3%. Additionally, the purified BNNTs exhibited a distinct liquid crystal phase, which was not observed in the unpurified BNNTs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Growth, Characterization and Applications of Nanotubes (2nd Edition))
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13 pages, 4383 KiB  
Article
Static and Dynamic Magnetic Properties of Fe3O4 Nanotubes
by Francisco Olea de la Hoz, Eduardo Saavedra, Alejandro Pereira and Juan Escrig
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(7), 1265; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13071265 - 3 Apr 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1981
Abstract
In this paper, our objective was to investigate the static and dynamic magnetic properties of Fe3O4 nanotubes that are 1000 nm long, by varying the external radius and the thickness of the tube wall. We performed a detailed numerical analysis [...] Read more.
In this paper, our objective was to investigate the static and dynamic magnetic properties of Fe3O4 nanotubes that are 1000 nm long, by varying the external radius and the thickness of the tube wall. We performed a detailed numerical analysis by simulating hysteresis curves with an external magnetic field applied parallel to the axis of the tubes (along the z-axis). Our findings indicate that nanotubes with an external radius of 30 nm exhibit non-monotonic behavior in their coercivity due to a change in the magnetization reversal mechanism, which was not observed in nanotubes with external radii of 80 nm. Additionally, we explored the dynamic susceptibility of these nanotubes and found that the position and number of resonance peaks can be controlled by manipulating the nanotube geometry. Overall, our study provides valuable insights into the behavior of Fe3O4 nanotubes, which can aid in the design and improvement in pseudo-one-dimensional technological devices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Growth, Characterization and Applications of Nanotubes (2nd Edition))
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7 pages, 3325 KiB  
Article
Innovative Variation in the Morphological Characteristics of Carbon Nanowalls Grown on a Molybdenum Disulfide Interlayer
by Chulsoo Kim, Kangmin Kim, Seokhun Kwon, Hyunil Kang, Byungyou Hong and Wonseok Choi
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(23), 4334; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12234334 - 6 Dec 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1420
Abstract
Carbon is a material with interesting properties which exists in large quantities on Earth, so many studies involving carbon have been conducted. In particular, nano-sized carbon allotropes, referred to as carbon nanomaterials, comprise the subject of various studies currently underway. The electrical, chemical, [...] Read more.
Carbon is a material with interesting properties which exists in large quantities on Earth, so many studies involving carbon have been conducted. In particular, nano-sized carbon allotropes, referred to as carbon nanomaterials, comprise the subject of various studies currently underway. The electrical, chemical, physical properties of carbon nanowalls (CNWs) are modified by parameters such as surface density, height and thickness. These characteristics have significant effects on CNWs and can be adjusted as a growth interlayer. It was confirmed that the molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) interlayer synthesized in this paper by radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering altered the morphological characteristics of the CNWs, including its shaped edge, pores diameter and density. We provide interesting results through FE-SEM, EDS and Raman analysis in this paper. Based on the Raman analysis, both the D-peak of carbon and the ID/IG ratio decreased. Through this study, the effect of MoS2 on the morphological characteristics of CNWs was confirmed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Growth, Characterization and Applications of Nanotubes (2nd Edition))
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