Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Commons^™

Functionalization And Length Fractionation Of Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes, Nina A. Bragg, Jing Pan, Jong Hyun Choi

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are a promising material for future biological applications such as imaging and targeted drug delivery. SWCNTs can be made soluble in water through surface functionalization, a priority for their use in biology. By studying the surface chemistry of SWCNTs, various functionalization methods can be accomplished without perturbing their electronic structure. This study probes the use of pyrene derivatives and phospholipids to non-covalently functionalize SWCNTs, maintaining useful surface properties. Phospholipids cross-linked to polyethylene glycol (PEG) or 1-pyrenebutyric acid conjugated to DNA is anchored onto the sidewalls of SWCNTs by hydrophobic interactions or π-stacking. The PEG/DNA portion is …

Carbon Allotrope Dependence On Temperature And Pressure During Thermal Decomposition Of Silicon Carbide, Munson J. Anderson

Theses and Dissertations

Bulk CNT and graphene films form on SiC using a metal-catalyst-free thermal decomposition approach. In this work, the background vacuum pressure and temperature used in the decomposition process are varied to investigate their impact on the type and quality of carbon allotrope formed on the SiC substrate. The carbon nanostructure growth is performed using two approaches, both of which involve intense heating (1400-1700°C) of SiC under moderate vacuum conditions (0.01 - 0.00001 Torr). The first growth method uses a conventional graphite resistance furnace capable of annealing waferscale samples over 1700°C under vacuum. Using this approach, post-growth characterization is performed using …

Design And Development Of A Novel Glucose Biosensor Based On The Ferrocene-Functionalized Fe3O4 Nanoparticles/Carbon Nanotubes/Chitosan Nanocomposite Film Modified Electrode, Hua-Ping Peng, Dai-Jun Zha, Wei Chen, Ai-Lin Liu, Xin-Hua Lin

Journal of Electrochemistry

A novel platform for the fabrication of glucose biosensor was successfully constructed by entrapping glucose oxidase (GOD) in a ferrocene monocarboxylic acid-aminated Fe₃O₄ magnetic nanoparticles conjugate (FMC-AFNPs)/chitosan (CS)/multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) nanocomposite. The formation of FMC-AFNPs could effectively prevent the leakage of ferrocene and retain its electrochemical activity. This GOD/FMC-AFNPs/CS/MWNTs matrix provided a biocompatible microenvironment for retaining the native activity of the immobilized GOD. Moreover, the presence of MWNTs enhanced the charge-transport properties of the composite and facilitated electron transfer between the GOD and the electrode for the electrocatalysis of glucose. Under the optimal conditions the designed …

Dna Based Carbon Nanotube Porphyrin Nanohybrids Molecular Recognization And Regeneration, Molly M. Riccitelli, Hanyu Zhang, Jong Hyun Choi

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

In the search to improve solar cells, scientists are exploring new materials that will provide better current transfer. One material that has emerged as a strong contender is the single walled carbon nanotube (SWNT). Current DNA-SWNT based films combined with chromophores have poor operational lifetimes compared to commercial solar cells. Once exposed to light the chromophore begins to degrade, eventually rendering the solar cell unusable. To solve this problem, we used a method involving multiple steps. First we found which DNA sequences formed structures around the SWNT that could hold the most chromophores by using a spectrophotometer to test the …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Nucleic Acid-Functionalized Nanomaterials, Brianna S. Carroll, Jong Hyun Choi

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Motor proteins such as kinesin move along microtubules in order to transport cellular cargos throughout the cell by obtaining energy from RNA hydrolysis which allows the cell to complete the tasks needed to stay alive. In this work, we developed synthetic molecular motors using DNA enzymes (DNAzyme) and fluorescent nanomaterials which mimic the functions and structures of motor proteins. A DNAzyme-capped CdS nanoparticle and a RNA-functionalized single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) were used as a walker and a track in the motor platform, respectively. As a walking mechanism, the DNAzyme cleaved the RNA substrates in the presence of metal cations. The …

Multiscale Modeling Of Liquid Crystalline/Nanotube Composites, Sharil Patrale

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

The objective of this research is to synthesize structural composites designed with particular areas defined with custom modulus, strength and toughness values in order to improve the overall mechanical behavior of the composite. Such composites are defined and referred to as 3D-designer composites. These composites will be formed from liquid crystalline polymers and carbon nanotubes. The fabrication process is a variation of rapid prototyping process, which is a layered, additive-manufacturing approach. Composites formed using this process can be custom designed by apt modeling methods for superior performance in advanced applications. The focus of this research is on enhancement of Young's …

Electrical And Optical Characterization Of Carbon Nanotube Diodes, Argyrios Malapanis

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Carbon nanotubes are good candidates for future applications, including nanoelectronic and nanophotonic devices. Their quasi-one dimensional (1D) character offers appealing device properties. These include reduced carrier scattering, carrier mobility up to two orders of magnitude higher than that of materials used in state-of-the-art computer chips today, current densities rivaling those of the best semiconductors, enhanced optical absorption, and band gaps tunable with tube diameter and doping. Recent breakthroughs in research point to the possibility of placing nanotubes precisely on substrates with densities approaching that of transistors on today's computer chips in a way that's integratable with existing Si-based technology. Such …

Electrochemical Performance Of Screen-Printed Composite Coatings Of Conducting Polymers And Carbon Nanotubes On Titanium Bipolar Plates In Aqueous Asymmetrical Supercapacitors, Xiaohang Zhou, George Z. Chen

Journal of Electrochemistry

Composites of conducting polymers (polypyrrole and polyaniline) with acid treated multi-walled carbon nanotubes were formulated into printable aqueous inks, with the aid of functional additives (benzethonium chloride as a surfactant with or without polyvinyl alcohol as a binder). The inks were screen-printed as fairly uniform coatings of various mass loading densities and areas (up to 75 mg cm^-2 and 100 cm²) on thin titanium plates (0.1 mm in thickness). These screen-printed plates were used to fabricate both unit cell and multi-cell stack of asymmetrical supercapacitors with screen-printed negative electrodes of activated carbon (pigment black) in aqueous electrolytes …

Distribution Map Of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes In A Refrigerant/Oil Mixture Within A 2.5 Ton Unitary Air-Conditioner, Warren Russell Long

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, nanoparticles have received considerable attention as a potential additive to heat transfer fluids (i.e. refrigerant) in order to increase the heat transfer capabilities of these fluids. The potential of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to exit the compressor, migrate throughout a vapor compression air conditioning system, and possibly foul the components of such a system was experimentally investigated in this research. Six grams of CNTs were dispersed in the polyol ester oil used by a 2.5 ton (8.79 kW) unitary air conditioning system, which was continuously operated for 168 hours. After this time, the unit was shut down and …

Synthesis And Characterizations Of Pyridinium Salts Including Poly(Pyridinium Salt)S And Their Applications, Tae Soo Jo

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Pyridinium salts, both molecular and polymeric, are an interesting class of multifunctional materials that exhibit liquid-crystalline and light-emitting properties. Moreover, their properties can be easily tuned by introducing new types of anions or by modifying their chemical structures. This dissertation describes synthesis and characterization of poly(pyridinium salt)s containing macrocounterions and fluorene moieties in their backbones, synthesis and characterization of nanocomposites of poly(pyridinium salt)s with single-walled carbon nanotubes via non-covalent interactions, and synthesis and characterizations of pyridinium salts having different aliphatic linkages and their application in organic acid sensing.

First, all of these ionic polymers were prepared by either ring-transmutation or …

Carbon Nanotubes With Ni2P Nanoparticles As A Counter Electrode In Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells, Yan-Ye Dou, Nan-Fu Yan, Guo-Ran Li, Xue-Ping Gao

Journal of Electrochemistry

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) supported by Ni₂P nanoparticles are prepared and used as a counter electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) for the first time. The CNTs-Ni₂P composite was prepared by the heat treatment of a mixed precursor including nickel chloride, sodium hypophosphite and CNTs in argon atmosphere. The X-Ray diffraction (XRD) results indicate that the as-prepared sample consists of hexagonal Ni2P and carbon nanotubes. No peaks of other nickel phosphides are observed in the XRD pattern. Microstructure of the Ni₂P-CNTs composite was investigated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It is shown that the Ni …

Experimental Study Of Novel Materials And Module For Cryogenic (4k) Superconducting Multi-Chip Modules, Ranjith John

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The objectives of this proposal are to understand the science and technology of interfaces in the packaging of superconducting electronic (SCE) multichip modules (MCMs) at 4 K. The thermal management issue of the current SCE-MCMs was examined and the package assembly was optimized. A novel thermally conducting and electrically insulating nano-engineered polymer was developed for the thermal management of SCE-MCMs for 4 K cryogenic packaging. Finally, the nano-engineered polymer was integrated as underfill in a SCE-MCM and the thermal and electrical performance of SCE-MCM was demonstrated at 4 K.

Niobium based superconducting electronics (SCE) are the fastest known digital logic …

High Frequency Characterization Of Carbon Nanotube Networks For Device Applications, Emmanuel Decrossas

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This work includes the microwave characterization of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to design new CNTs-based high frequency components. A novel developed method to extract the electrical properties over a broad microwave frequency band from 10 MHz to 50 GHz of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in a powder form is performed. The measured scattering parameters (S-parameters) with a performance network analyzer are compared to the simulated one obtained from an in-house computed mode matching technique (MMT). An optimized first order gradient method iteratively changes the unknown complex permittivity parameters to map the simulated S-parameters with the measured one until convergence criteria are satisfied. …

Fabrication And Characterization Of Hybrid Energy Harvesting Microdevices, Zhongcheng Gong

Doctoral Dissertations

In this dissertation, a hybrid energy harvesting system based on a lead zirconate titanate (PZT) and carbon nanotube film (CNF) cantilever structure has been designed, fabricated and studied. It has the ability to harvest light and thermal radiation energy from ambient energy and convert them to electricity.

The proposed micro-scale energy harvesting device consists of a composite cantilever beam (SU-8/CNF/Pt/PZT/Pt) which is fixed on a silicon based anchor and two electrode pads for wire bonding. The CNF acts as an antenna to receive radiation energy and convert it to heat energy and then transfer to the whole cantilever structure. The …

Study On The Electrochemical Behaviors Of Gc Electrode Modified With Carbon Nanotube-Polyelectrolytes And Its Application For Rutin Detection, Liang Hua, Xia-Qin Wu, Rong Wang

Journal of Electrochemistry

The electrochemical behaviors of rutin and ascorbic acid at single-wall carbon nanotube and polyelectrolytes (dimethyl-diallylammonium chloride, PDDA) film modified glassy carbon electrode was investigated. The cyclic voltammetric results showed that electron transfer of rutin at PDDA/SWCNTs/GC modified electrode is an adsorption-controlled process. The separation of oxidation peak potentials of rutin and ascorbic acid was more than 200 mV. The rutin concentration in the presence of AA were detected by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The experimental results indicated that the PDDA/SWCNTs/GC modified electrode can be used for the detection of rutin in the presence of high concentration of AA. The DPV …

Electrocatalytic Oxidation Of Hydrazine At Rutin Carbon Nanotubes Modified Electrode, Hong-Fang Zhang, Qing-Lin Sheng, Jian-Bin Zheng

Journal of Electrochemistry

The electrochemical behavior and electrocatalytic oxidation of hydrazine on rutin multiwall carbon nanotubes modified glassy carbon electrode were studied by cyclic voltammetry.The experimental results indicated that the electrode exhibits good electrocatalytic activity to hydrazine at a reduced oxidation potential of 262 mV.The amperometric response of the modified electrode showed linear increase after successive addition of hydrazine in the concentration range of 2.5×10^-6~1.0×10^-4 mol·L-1 with a detection limit of 5×10^-7 mol·L^-1.

Synthesis, Processing And Characterization Of Silicon-Based Templated Nanowires, Jae Ho Lee

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Semiconductor and metallic nanowires have attracted substantial attention due to their wide variety of applications, ranging from nanoelectronics to energy storage devices. In particular, self-assembled silicon nanowires (SiNWs) may be an attractive alternative to conventionally processed planar silicon since SiNWs can potentially function as both the switch (i.e. transistor) and local interconnect (e.g. metal silicide nanowire) to form an inherently integrated nanoelectronic system. Also, hierarchical (branched) nanowire systems hold potential for catalysts or porous electrode applications for energy applications

Strain Energy And Lateral Friction Force Distributions Of Carbon Nanotubes Manipulated Into Shapes By Atomic Force Microscopy, Mark C. Strus, Roya R. Lahiji, Pablo Ares, Vincente Lopez, Arvind Raman, Ron R. Reifenberger

Other Nanotechnology Publications

The interplay between local mechanical strain energy and lateral frictional forces determines the shape of carbon nanotubes on substrates. In turn, because of its nanometer-size diameter, the shape of a carbon nanotube strongly influences its local electronic, chemical, and mechanical properties. Few, if any, methods exist for resolving the strain energy and static frictional forces along the length of a deformed nanotube supported on a substrate. We present a method using nonlinear elastic rod theory in which we compute the flexural strain energy and static frictional forces along the length of single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) manipulated into various shapes …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Sulfur-Carbonnanotubes As Cathode Of Lithium/Sulfur Rechargeable Battery, Rui Du, Zhong-Zhi Yuan

Journal of Electrochemistry

A carbon-containing composite was synthesized by heating element sulfur and carbon nanotubes. The sulfur-carbonnanotube composites were characterized by X-ray diffraction, SEM, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller. The electrochemical property was characterized by cyclic voltammetry,constant current charge and discharge. It was revealed that the sulfur-carbonnanotube cathode 2016-type coin cells exhibited a good electrochemical property with the initial dicharge specific capacity up to 680 mAh/g and a stable capacity approximately 500 mAh/g after 30 cycle numbers.

Interfacial Energy Between Carbon Nanotubes And Polymers Measured From Nanoscale Peel Tests In The Atomic Force Microscope, Mark C. Strus, Camilo I. Cano, R. Byron Pipes, Cattien V. Nguyen, Arvind Raman

Other Nanotechnology Publications

The future development of polymer composite materials with nanotubes or nanoscale fibers requires the ability to understand and improve the interfacial bonding at the nanotube-polymer matrix interface. In recent work [Strus MC, Zalamea L, Raman A, Pipes RB, Nguyen CV, Stach EA. Peeling force spectroscopy: exposing the adhesive nanomechanics of one-dimensional nanostructures. Nano Lett 2008;8(2):544–50], it has been shown that a new mode in the Atomic Force Microscope (AFM), peeling force spectroscopy, can be used to understand the adhesive mechanics of carbon nanotubes peeled from a surface. In the present work, we demonstrate how AFM peeling force spectroscopy can be …

Electrochemical Properties Of Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes And Their Applications In Analysis Of 6-Mercaptopurine, Bao-Yi Lu, Yan-Yan Lai, Hong Li

Journal of Electrochemistry

The electrochemical behaviors and adsorption properties of single-walled carbon nanotubes such as SWNT,SWNT-COOH,and SWNT-OH and multi-walled carbon nanotubes including MWNT,MWNT-COOH,and MWNT-OH modified at a graphite electrode have been investigated by using [Fe(CN)₆]^3-anion and [Co(phen)₃]³⁺ cation.It was shown that shows good redox reversibility of [Fe(CN)₆]^3-/4-reactions on the existed carbon nanotubes(CNT) modified electrode.Based on the strong adsorptive property of [Co(phen)₃]³⁺ on the CNT surface,the [Co(phen)₃]³⁺/CNT modified graphite electrode can be obtained by progressive potential sweeping and developed to monitor quantitatively 6-mercaptopurine(6-MP).The adsorption capacity of …

Identification Of Multiple Oscillation States Of Carbon Nanotube Tipped Cantilevers Interacting With Surfaces In Dynamic Atomic Force Microscopy, Mark Strus, Arvind Raman

Birck and NCN Publications

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have gained increased interest in dynamic atomic force microscopy (dAFM) as sharp, flexible, conducting, nonreactive tips for high-resolution imaging, oxidation lithography, and electrostatic force microscopy. By means of theory and experiments we lay out a map of several distinct tapping mode AFM oscillation states for CNT tipped AFM cantilevers: namely, noncontact attractive regime oscillation, intermittent contact with CNT slipping or pinning, or permanent contact with the CNT in point or line contact with the surface while the cantilever oscillates with large amplitude. Each state represents fundamentally different origins of CNT-surface interactions, CNT tip-substrate dissipation, and phase contrast …

Voltammetric Determination Of Iodate Ion In Table Salt By Carboxylic Carbon Nanotubes Modified Carbon Paste Electrode, Jun-Hua Li, Fu-Xing Zhang, Jian-Qiu Wang, Zhi-Feng Xu, Rong-Ying Zeng, Yan Yu

Journal of Electrochemistry

A highly-sensitive and mercury-free method of determining iodate ion in table salt was established based on carboxylic carbon nanotubes modified carbon paste electrode.In 0.1 mol/L NaOH solution,there was a sensitive cathodic stripping peak on voltammograms.The stripping peak potential was-0.52 V when accumulation time of IO-3 at the modified electrode was 60 s and the potential scan rate was 300 mV/s.There was a good liner relationship between the peak current and IO-3 concentration in the range of 8.0×10^-10 ～ 5.0×10^-8 mol/L and 1.0×10^-7 ～ 3.0×10^-6 mol/L with the correlation coefficient of 0.999 and 0.998,respectively.The detection limit was …

Study On Electrocatalytic Oxidation Of Salbutamol At Carbon Nanotubes Modified Electrode, Ying-Liang Wei, Lu-Ping Zhang, Chen Shao, Hui Feng, Xian-Li Li

Journal of Electrochemistry

The multi-wall carbon nanotubes(MWNT) were dispersed successfully into water in the presence of dihexadecyl hydrogen phosphate(DHP) and a stable well-distributed suspension.A was formed sensor based on the multi-carbon nanotubes film coated glassy carbon electrode was developed.The electrochemical response of salbutamol was studied by square wave voltammetry.The oxidation peak potential of salbutamol at the modified electrode was observed at 0.604 V,which shifted about 40 mV negatively.The peak current increased 4.5 folds,in contrast to that at a bare electrode.Under optimal measurement conditions,there was a good linear relationship between the peak current(Ipa) and salbutamol concentration(C) in the range from 8.3 × 1 0 …

Preparation And Lithium Storage Performance Of Nano-Structural Sno2/Carbon Nanotubes Composite Electrodes, Hong-Bing Wei, Ling Huang, Xiao-Bin Wu, Fu-Sheng Ke, Jin-Shu Cai, Xiao-Yong Fan, Fang-Zu Yang, Shi-Gang Sun

Journal of Electrochemistry

The Nano-structural SnO₂/Carbon Nanotubes Composites were prepared in a solution of SnCl₂,ethylene glycol(EG),purified MWCNTs and sodium dodecyl sulfate(SDS) at 160 ℃.The phase structure and surface morphology of the composites were measured by XRD HRTEM and SEM.The results indicate that there are high dispersions and high loadings of SnO₂ nanoparticles on MWCNTs.Electrochemical lithium storage performance was studied preliminarily on the obtained samples.MWCNTs modified with SnO₂ nanoparicles were shown to have a higher electrochemical reversible capacity than that of MWCNTs during the charge and discharge process.MWCNTs can accommodate the larger structure strain of the active materials …

Investigation On The Resistance To Electrochemical Oxidation Of Carbon Nanotubes With Various Diameters, Yu-Yan Shao, Ge-Ping Yin, Yun-Zhi Gao, Peng-Fei Shi

Journal of Electrochemistry

The resistance to electrochemical oxidation of multi-wall carbon nanotubes(CNT) with various diameters is investigated by applying a fixed potential of 1.2 V(RHE) for 120 h in 0.5 mol L^-1 H₂SO₄.The oxidation current of CNTs decreases with their diameters,but CNTs between 10~20 nm in diameter(D1020) shows the lowest oxidation current.XPS analysis shows that,after oxidation,the increase in surface oxygen for D1020 is the smallest,implying that the oxidation degree for D1020 is the lowest.The conclusion can be reached that CNTs between 10~20 nm in diameter are the most resistant to electrochemical oxidation.The difference in electrochemical stability of CNTs …

The Fabrication And Electrochemical Studies On Carbon Nanotube Array Electrodes, Quan-Yong Gao, Jing Zhang, Yong Yang

Journal of Electrochemistry

An improved technique for fabrication of carbon nanotube array electrodes has been proposed in this work. Firstly, carbon nanotubes (CNs) array electrodes were prepared by combsination of Chemical Vapor Decomposition (CVD) method and sputtering techniques in anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) membrane. The CNs/AAO was immersed into HF solution to remove the barrier layer. Controlling the immersing time, the CNs array electrodes with different length contacted with electrolyte can be prepared. The morphology of CNs array electrodes was observed by SEM. The electrochemical properties of CNs array electrodes were investigated by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Cyclic voltammetric curves of …

Preparation, Structure And Electrochemical Hydrogenation Of Carbon Nanotubes Supported Platinum Catalysts, Qing-Gang He, Xiao-Zi Yuan, Xian-Xia Yuan, Zi-Feng Ma

Journal of Electrochemistry

In this paper, Pt/CNTs catalyst was prepared and its electrocatalytic property was studied by obtaining cycling voltammetry curves (C-V) and Tafel curves. In addition, the XRD,XPS and TEM tests were carried out to determine the structure and composition of the catalysts. It can be found that the platinum loading has been increased significantly using a carbon nanotubes support. Dispersion of Platinum was better and gave more active sites. The electrochemical characteristic of Pt/CNTs was also more desirable than that of Pt/C catalys t(Johnson Matthey). In conclusion, carbon nanotubes can played a conspicuous role in "electrogenerative" processes of PEMFC hydrogenation reactor.

The Study On Carbon Nanotube-Loaded Pt Catalysts For Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells, Hong Zhu, Feng-Juan Ge, Xiao-Hong Kang, Yu-Guo Yang, Yun-Hua Xu

Journal of Electrochemistry

Carbon nanotube-supported-platinum (Pt/CNTs) and carbon-supported-platinum (Pt/C) catalysts were synthesized by in-situ chemical reduction. They were analyzed using TEM and XRD, then made into electrodes to be part of assemable PEMFC for the performence tests. The resulted show that Pt clusters in both catalysts are of small particle size (about 4nm), and Pt/CNTs exhibits a higher catalytic activity than Pt/C.