Preparation, Separation, Characterization and Application of Carbon Nanotubes

A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "2D and Carbon Nanomaterials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 October 2024 | Viewed by 4832

Special Issue Editor


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Security and Disruptive Technologies Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, 1200 Montreal Road, M-12, Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6, Canada
Interests: carbon nanotubes; conjugated polymers; transistors; sensors

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Since the seminal discovery of carbon nanotubes by Sumio Iijima more than 30 years ago, research interest in this field has grown dramatically due to their unique optical and electronic properties. Synthesized raw tube material usually contains both semiconducting and metallic tubes with a wide diameter and chirality distribution, besides some other impurities, which means that it is usually not good enough for practical usage. Synthetic techniques have been improved substantially by finetuning the catalyst and preparation conditions used. Post-synthesis separation has also been sought out. The purity requirement is heavily dependent on the application. For example, for thin film transistors with channel lengths over 10 um, 99.9% semiconducting purity could be enough, but 99.9999% is desired for high-performance short-channel field-effect transistors. For optical applications, high-purity single-chirality samples are needed. Currently, high semiconducting purity and some single-chirality carbon nanotubes could be easily obtained from solution processes.

The present Special Issue of Nanomaterials is aimed at presenting the current state-of-the-art research related to carbon nanotubes, covering not only the preparation and enrichment process to address purity and chiral selectivity issues but also device applications, such as thin film transistors, photodetectors, single photo emission and sensors. For this Special Issue, we welcome contributions from leading groups in the field and hope to give a balanced view of the current state of the art in this discipline.

Dr. Zhao Li
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nanomaterials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • carbon nanotubes
  • purification
  • enrichment
  • transistors
  • sensors

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

10 pages, 2127 KiB  
Article
Polymer Coating Enabled Carrier Modulation for Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Network Inverters and Antiambipolar Transistors
by Zhao Li, Jenner H. L. Ngai and Jianfu Ding
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(18), 1477; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14181477 - 11 Sep 2024
Viewed by 470
Abstract
The control of the performance of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) random network-based transistors is of critical importance for their applications in electronic devices, such as complementary metal oxide semiconducting (CMOS)-based logics. In ambient conditions, SWCNTs are heavily p-doped by the H2O/O [...] Read more.
The control of the performance of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) random network-based transistors is of critical importance for their applications in electronic devices, such as complementary metal oxide semiconducting (CMOS)-based logics. In ambient conditions, SWCNTs are heavily p-doped by the H2O/O2 redox couple, and most doping processes have to counteract this effect, which usually leads to broadened hysteresis and poor stability. In this work, we coated an SWCNT network with various common polymers and compared their thin-film transistors’ (TFTs’) performance in a nitrogen-filled glove box. It was found that all polymer coatings will decrease the hysteresis of these transistors due to the partial removal of charge trapping sites and also provide the stable control of the doping level of the SWCNT network. Counter-intuitively, polymers with electron-withdrawing functional groups lead to a dramatically enhanced n-branch in their transfer curve. Specifically, SWCNT TFTs with poly (vinylidene fluoride) coating show an n-type mobility up to 61 cm2/Vs, with a decent on/off ratio and small hysteresis. The inverters constructed by connecting two ambipolar TFTs demonstrate high gain but with certain voltage loss. P-type or n-type doping from polymer coating layers could suppress unnecessary n- or p-branches, shift the threshold voltage and optimize the performance of these inverters to realize rail-to-rail switching. Similar devices also demonstrate interesting antiambipolar performance with tunable on and off voltage when tested in a different configuration. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 2347 KiB  
Article
Ultra-Mild Fabrication of Highly Concentrated SWCNT Dispersion Using Spontaneous Charging in Solvated Electron System
by Junho Shin, Jung Hoon Kim, Jungeun Lee, Sangyong Lee, Jong Hwan Park, Seung Yol Jeong, Hee Jin Jeong, Joong Tark Han, Seon Hee Seo, Seoung-Ki Lee and Jungmo Kim
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(13), 1094; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14131094 - 26 Jun 2024
Viewed by 1283
Abstract
The efficient dispersion of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) has been the subject of extensive research over the past decade. Despite these efforts, achieving individually dispersed SWCNTs at high concentrations remains challenging. In this study, we address the limitations associated with conventional methods, such [...] Read more.
The efficient dispersion of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) has been the subject of extensive research over the past decade. Despite these efforts, achieving individually dispersed SWCNTs at high concentrations remains challenging. In this study, we address the limitations associated with conventional methods, such as defect formation, excessive surfactant use, and the use of corrosive solvents. Our novel dispersion method utilizes the spontaneous charging of SWCNTs in a solvated electron system created by dissolving potassium in hexamethyl phosphoramide (HMPA). The resulting charged SWCNTs (c-SWCNTs) can be directly dispersed in the charging medium using only magnetic stirring, leading to defect-free c-SWCNT dispersions with high concentrations of up to 20 mg/mL. The successful dispersion of individual c-SWCNT strands is confirmed by their liquid-crystalline behavior. Importantly, the dispersion medium for c-SWCNTs exhibits no reactivity with metals, polymers, or other organic solvents. This versatility enables a wide range of applications, including electrically conductive free-standing films produced via conventional blade coating, wet-spun fibers, membrane electrodes, thermal composites, and core-shell hybrid microparticles. Full article
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

12 pages, 6429 KiB  
Article
Improving the Adhesion of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes to Titanium by Irradiating the Interface with He+ Ions: Atomic Force Microscopy and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy Study
by Petr M. Korusenko, Egor V. Knyazev, Olga V. Petrova, Denis V. Sokolov, Sergey N. Povoroznyuk, Konstantin E. Ivlev, Ksenia A. Bakina, Vyacheslav A. Gaas and Alexander S. Vinogradov
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(8), 699; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14080699 - 17 Apr 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1111
Abstract
A complex study of the adhesion of multi-walled carbon nanotubes to a titanium surface, depending on the modes of irradiation with He+ ions of the “MWCNT/Ti” system, was conducted using atomic force microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. A quantitative assessment of the [...] Read more.
A complex study of the adhesion of multi-walled carbon nanotubes to a titanium surface, depending on the modes of irradiation with He+ ions of the “MWCNT/Ti” system, was conducted using atomic force microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. A quantitative assessment of the adhesion force at the interface, performed using atomic force microscopy, demonstrated its significant increase as a result of treatment of the “MWCNT/Ti” system with a beam of helium ions. The nature of the chemical bonding between multi-walled carbon nanotubes and the surface of the titanium substrate, which causes this increase in the adhesion of nanotubes to titanium as a result of ion irradiation, was investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It was established that this bonding is the result of the formation of chemical C–O–Ti bonds between titanium and carbon atoms with the participation of oxygen atoms of oxygen-containing functional groups, which are localized on defects in the nanotube walls formed during ion irradiation. It is significant that there are no signs of direct bonding between titanium and carbon atoms. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

21 pages, 3745 KiB  
Review
The Effectiveness Mechanisms of Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) as Reinforcements for Magnesium-Based Composites for Biomedical Applications: A Review
by Abbas Saberi, Madalina Simona Baltatu and Petrica Vizureanu
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(9), 756; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14090756 - 25 Apr 2024
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1399
Abstract
As a smart implant, magnesium (Mg) is highly biocompatible and non-toxic. In addition, the elastic modulus of Mg relative to other biodegradable metals (iron and zinc) is close to the elastic modulus of natural bone, making Mg an attractive alternative to hard tissues. [...] Read more.
As a smart implant, magnesium (Mg) is highly biocompatible and non-toxic. In addition, the elastic modulus of Mg relative to other biodegradable metals (iron and zinc) is close to the elastic modulus of natural bone, making Mg an attractive alternative to hard tissues. However, high corrosion rates and low strength under load relative to bone are some challenges for the widespread use of Mg in orthopedics. Composite fabrication has proven to be an excellent way to improve the mechanical performance and corrosion control of Mg. As a result, their composites emerge as an innovative biodegradable material. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have superb properties like low density, high tensile strength, high strength-to-volume ratio, high thermal conductivity, and relatively good antibacterial properties. Therefore, using CNTs as reinforcements for the Mg matrix has been proposed as an essential option. However, the lack of understanding of the mechanisms of effectiveness in mechanical, corrosion, antibacterial, and cellular fields through the presence of CNTs as Mg matrix reinforcements is a challenge for their application. This review focuses on recent findings on Mg/CNT composites fabricated for biological applications. The literature mentions effective mechanisms for mechanical, corrosion, antimicrobial, and cellular domains with the presence of CNTs as reinforcements for Mg-based nanobiocomposites. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop