Structural and mechanical properties of free-standing multiwalled carbon nanotube paper prepared by an aqueous mediated process

Abstract

Free-standing carbon nanotube film (bucky paper) is a very important material for various applications, but its commercial production is still limited due to size, cost and properties. In the present work, different methods are used to prepare five different types of bucky papers, namely normal, pure refluxed, oxidized, oxidized refluxed and functionalized by using as-produced multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), refluxed MWCNTs, air-oxidized MWCNTs, oxidized refluxed MWCNTs and HNO 3 functionalized MWCNTs, respectively. Morphological, physical and structural changes appeared due to different methods are analysed by scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Changes in the relative characteristic peak ratio (i.e. I G /I D , I G 0 /I D and I G 0 /I G ) as a function of MWCNTs quality are determined. It is observed that oxidized refluxed MWCNTs have an average value of I G /I D , I G 0/I D and I G 0 /I G ratio as 4.12, 7.15 and 1.71, respectively, which is higher as compared to other samples. The mechanical properties of different bucky papers are studied by performing tensile tests. The result showed that tensile strength, Young's modulus and toughness of oxidized refluxed MWCNTs bucky paper are 3.9 MPa, 440 MPa and 780 Jm -3 , respectively, which are higher as compared to as-produced MWCNTs bucky paper. The air oxidation and back-to-back refluxing generates nanoscale irregularities within the hexagonal C-structure of a nanotube wall. This helps in improving intermolecular bonding and packing which resulted into significant improvement in the mechanical properties. These bucky papers prepared by economical ways of air oxidation and refluxing in an alkali-soluble emulsifier assisted aqueous medium are potential candidates for field emission devices, energy storage devices and structural materials.

A Molecular‐Level Interface Design Enabled High‐Strength and High‐Toughness Carbon Nanotube Buckypaper

“…In addition, Figure 3e shows the σ f of BPs treated by PAMAM in our study is much higher than that of various CNT‐functionalized BPs prepared by other solution methods. [ 8,9,12,14,21,24–30 ] To further explore the internal stress‐transfer mechanisms, we investigated the fracture surfaces of tested samples (Figure 3f–h) and found that the fracture surfaces of PGBPs were very jagged while they were relatively flat for PBPs and CFBPs. This observation again indicated that the capability to resist crack propagation was enhanced due to the introduction of the PAMAM‐induced chemical cross‐linking at the interfaces between CNTs.…”

Metal-carbon nanotube composite for wavelength-selective bolometer with improved characteristics

“…[6][7][8][9][10][11][12] Additionally, their large strength-to-weight ratio is an added value for the formation of freestanding films, an extremely important parameter in bolometer (BM) technology. 1,3,13 From the viewpoint of practical implementation, these nanotubes are compatible with silicon (Si) microfabrication technology and have also displayed strong promises toward a disruptive technology. [14][15][16] All these exceptional properties offer its prospects for future device applications.…”