Papers by Keyword: Carbon Nanowires

Abstract: Mass production of carbon nanofibers (CNFs) on a water soluble support has been achieved by chemical vapor deposition method. Carbon nanofibers have been synthesized using metal (Ni, Co, Fe) acetate as catalyst precursors at 680°C. Upon pyrolysis this catalyst yields metal nanoparticles directly. The sodium chloride was used as catalyst support, it was chosen because of its non toxic and water soluble nature. The problems such as detrimental effect, environment and even cost has been avoided by using water soluble support. The structure of the products was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction method. The purity of as grown products and purified products was determined by thermal analysis. The yield of CNFs was up to 7500 wt% relative to the nickel catalyst have been achieved in the growth time of 15 mins. The advantage of this synthesis technique is the simplicity and use of easily available low cost precursors.

Abstract: Si/carbon nanofibers (Si/CNFs) composite used as the anode materials of lithium-ion battery have been prepared via electrospinning and calcinations treatment. Hydrofluoric acid is used to remove surface oxides of Si particles. SEM observation indicates that silicon particles are uniformly embedded in the carbon nanofibers. X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and Raman scattering have been used to analysis the composition and phase of the composite materials. The first reversible capacity of the Si/CNFs composite is 1004 mAh/g, and 390 mAh/g has been remained after 100 cycles. Such Si/CNFs composite could be a promising anode material in lithium ion batteries.

Abstract: In this Work we Have Compared the Effects of Physical Activation with CO₂ and Chemical Activation with KOH on Porosity Development in Vapor Grown Carbon Nanofibers (CNFs). both Physical and Chemical Activations Result in Micro- and Mesoporosity Development in the Studied Cnfs. under this Work’s Conditions, Chemical Activation with KOH Was More Efficient than Physical Activation with CO₂ in Terms of Surface Area Increase Regarding the Fresh Material (7.5-Fold versus 4-Fold, Respectively, under the Optimal Conditions Found for each Type of Activation). Atomic Force Microscopy Indicated that, although the CNF Samples Retained their Fibrous Morphology upon both Physical and Chemical Activation, the Latter Treatment Brought about Noticeable Changes in their Nanometer-Scale Structure. Likewise, an Appreciable Decrease in Nanofiber Diameter Following both Types of Activation Was Noticed. However, such Diameter Reduction Could Not Account for the Increase in Specific Surface Area of the Activated Materials, which Has to Be Attributed to Porosity Development. X-Ray Diffraction Studies Showed that both Physical as Chemical Activation Take Place Mainly on the Disordered Skin of the Cnfs but in a Different Way. Thus, Physical Activation Removes the More Amorphous Areas from the CNF Skin by Gasification (which Increases their Structural Order), while upon Chemical Activation with KOH, the Carbon Material Is Oxidized to a Carbonate, and the Alkali Hydroxide Is Reduced to Metallic Potassium, which Becomes Intercalated between the Graphene Layers of the Carbon Material, Leading to a Certain Expansion of the Structure.

Abstract: Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) based carbon nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning and their activity for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in acidic media was investigated. Field emission electron microscope (FE-SEM), transition electron microscope (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) were carried out to investigate the surface morphology, composition, and catalytic activity. Thin carbon nanofibers of a 150 nm diameter were successfully produced by electrospinning using 8 wt% PAN in dimethylformamide, 15 cm pin to plate distance, and applying voltage of 18 kV at different carbonization temperatures of 700, 900, 1000, 1100, and 1200 °C. The ORR activity of the prepared carbon nanofibers was evaluated. The PAN based carbon nanofibers showed a considerable ORR activity and this activity was increased by increasing the carbonization temperature. The high ORR onset potentials over 700 mV vs. RHE (milli-volt versus reversible hydrogen electrode) were obtained at temperatures over 1000 °C. The activity of PAN based carbon nanofibers increased with increasing carbonization temperature from 700 to 1100 °C, this would be related to the increasing in the electrical conductivity at low carbonization temperatures, and the high Pyridine N content at the high carbonization temperatures.

Abstract: Ultrafine fibers were electrospun from polyacrylonitrile (PAN)/N,N-dimethyl formamide (DMF) solution as a precursor of carbon nanofibers. The effects of solution concentration, applied voltage and flow rate on preparation and morphologies of electrospun PAN fibers were investigated. Morphologies of the green fibers, stabilized fibers and carbonized fibers were compared by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The diameter of PAN nanofibers is about 450nm and the distribution of diameter is well-proportioned. Characterization of the elements changes of fibers were performed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).

Abstract: As well known, the weld line defect in injection molding process results detrimental to mechanical properties and surface quality. However, the electrical conductivity of the injection molded part is influenced as well. In this study, in order to reveal the mechanism of the weld line affecting the electrical conductivity of injection molding parts, the conductive polymer composites with various carbon nanofibers filling contents were compounded. Those composites were formed as the tensile samples with and without weld line defects by injection molding process. According to the electrical resistance measurements for the samples, it can be found that at relative low filling content of 10wt%, the weld line contributes to increase the electrical conductivity of the injection molding parts due to its effect on nanofibers’ orientation. However, when the filling content is higher than 20wt%, this effect is not significant any more.

Abstract: Electrospun Poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVdF) fine fiber of 100-300 nm in diameter in ribbon shape was synthesized through the electrospinning process via sol-gel. In order to synthesize infusible nanofibers all processing of dehydrofluorination and carbonization was investigated. Iron nanoparticles was doped with PVDF nanofibers in order to be effective in surface area, and porosity to increase the hydrogen storage. The composition, morphology, structure and surface area of PVDF/Iron Oxide nanofibers were investigated by thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) to determinate the temperature of possible decomposition and crystallinity, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Micromeritics (ASAP2020) used to study the textural properties of the sample, like surface area, total pore volume, and micro pore volume. The result shows that the PVDF without dehydrofluorination treatment for infusibility become melt at around 160 °C. By adding the iron oxide nanoparticles as a catalyst it can improve the characteristic of the carbon fiber for hydrogen storage. In best of our knowledge, PVDF doping with iron oxide investigated for first time.

Abstract: Due to influence of size effect, the force properties in nanoscale are greatly different from those in macroscale and the traditional models of operation are becoming difficult to meet the development of nanoscale manipulation. To provide guiding theory for practical nano-manipulation, the nanoscale forces of contact and non-contact operation of nanowires are analyzed for nano-manipulation in SEM. The Vander Waals models among the probe, nanowire and substrate are modeled according to the force properties in nanoscale, and then the simplified models are simulated with MATLAB. The influence degree of various factors and the relationship of them during the operation are obtained. At last, experimental system is established to verify the correctness of the proposed models.

Abstract: Carbon nanofibre-reinforced polypropylene nanocomposites containing from 5 to 20 wt.% of carbon nanofibres and a chemical blowing agent were melt-compounded and later foamed using compression-moulding. Alongside their foaming behaviour analysis and cellular characterization, foams showing an increasingly finer isometric cellular structure with increasing the amount of nanofibres, their thermal conductivity was determined using the Transient Plane Source Method (TPS). Contrarily to the electrical conductivity, which has previously been shown to rise with increasing the amount of carbon nanofibres [1], the addition of the nanofibres did not significantly alter the thermal conductivity of the PP foams, their value being mainly affected by the relative density, only slight differences being assessed for the higher expansion ratio PP-CNF foams.