Project description:In order to truly unlock advanced applications of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), one needs to separate them according to both chirality and handedness. Here we show that the chiral D-ribityl phosphate chain of flavin mononucleotide (FMN) induces a right-handed helix that enriches the left-handed SWNTs for all suspended (n,m) species. Such enantioselectivity stems from the sp(3) hybridization of the N atom anchoring the sugar moiety to the flavin ring. This produces two FMN conformations (syn and anti) analogous to DNA. Electrostatic interactions between the neighboring uracil moiety and the 2'-OH group of the side chain provide greater stability to the anti-FMN conformation that leads to a right-handed FMN helix. The right-handed twist that the FMN helix imposes to the underlying nanotube, similar to "Indian burn", causes diameter dilation of only the left-handed SWNTs, whose improved intermolecular interactions with the overlaying FMN helix, impart enantioselection.
Project description:Fibrous carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and lamellar graphene oxide (GO) exhibit significant advantages for improving the fatigue properties of rubber composites. In this work, the synergistic effect of CNTs and GO on the modification of the microstructure and fatigue properties of natural rubber (NR) was comprehensively investigated. Results showed that CNTs and GO were interspersed, and they formed a strong filler network in the NR matrix. Compared with those of CNT/NR and GO/NR composites, the CNT-GO/NR composites showed the smallest crack precursor sizes, the lowest crack growth rates, more branching and deflections, and the longest fatigue life.
Project description:Carbon nanotube (CNT) and graphene-based sponges and aerogels have an isotropic porous structure and their mechanical strength and stability are relatively lower. Here, we present a junction-welding approach to fabricate porous CNT solids in which all CNTs are coated and welded in situ by an amorphous carbon layer, forming an integral three-dimensional scaffold with fixed joints. The resulting CNT solids are robust, yet still highly porous and compressible, with compressive strengths up to 72?MPa, flexural strengths up to 33?MPa, and fatigue resistance (recovery after 100,000 large-strain compression cycles at high frequency). Significant enhancement of mechanical properties is attributed to the welding-induced interconnection and reinforcement of structural units, and synergistic effects stemming from the core-shell microstructures consisting of a flexible CNT framework and a rigid amorphous carbon shell. Our results provide a simple and effective method to manufacture high-strength porous materials by nanoscale welding.
Project description:The ability of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) covalently functionalized with polyamine chains of different length (ethylenediamine, EDA and tetraethylenepentamine, EPA) to induce the J-aggregation of meso-tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin (TPPS) was investigated in different experimental conditions. Under mild acidic conditions, protonated amino groups allow for the assembly by electrostatic interaction with the diacid form of TPPS, leading to hybrid nanomaterials. The presence of only one pendant amino group for a chain in EDA does not lead to any aggregation, whereas EPA (with four amine groups for chain) is effective in inducing J-aggregation using different mixing protocols. These nanohybrids have been characterized through UV/Vis extinction, fluorescence emission, resonance light scattering, and circular dichroism spectroscopy. Their morphology and chemical composition have been elucidated through transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). TEM and STEM analysis evidence single or bundles of MWCNTs in contact with TPPS J-aggregates nanotubes. The nanohybrids are quite stable for days, even in aqueous solutions mimicking physiological medium (NaCl 0.15 M). This property, together with their peculiar optical features in the therapeutic window of visible spectrum, make them potentially useful for biomedical applications.
Project description:Inorganic nanotubes are morphological counterparts of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Yet, only graphene-like BN layer has been readily organized into single walled nanotubes so far. In this study, we present a simple route to obtain inorganic single walled nanotubes - a novel ultrathin morphology for bismuth iodide (BiI3), embedded within CNTs. The synthesis involves the capillary filling of BiI3 into CNT, which acts as a nanotemplate, by annealing the BiI3-CNT mixture above the melting point of BiI3. Aberration corrected scanning/transmission electron microscopy is used in characterizing the novel morphology of BiI3. A critical diameter which enables the formation of BiI3 nanotubes, against BiI3 nanorods is identified. The relative stability of these phases is investigated with the density functional theory calculations. Remarkably, the calculations reveal that the single walled BiI3 nanotubes are semiconductors with a direct band gap, which remain stable even without the host CNTs.
Project description:The thrust of this work is to integrate small and uniformly sized carbon nanodots (CNDs) with single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) of different diameters as electron donors and electron acceptors, respectively, and to test their synergetic interactions in terms of optoelectronic devices. CNDs (denoted pCNDs, where p indicates pressure) were prepared by pressure-controlled microwave decomposition of citric acid and urea. pCNDs were immobilized on single-walled carbon nanotubes by wrapping the latter with poly(4-vinylbenzyl trimethylamine) (PVBTA), which features positively charged ammonium groups in the backbone. Negatively charged surface groups on the CNDs lead to attractive electrostatic interactions. Ground state interactions between the CNDs and SWCNTs were confirmed by a full-fledged photophysical investigation based on steady-state and time-resolved techniques. As a complement, charge injection into the SWCNTs upon photoexcitation was investigated by ultra-short time-resolved spectroscopy.
Project description:Here we represent thermodynamics on soluble carbon nanotubes that enables deep understanding the interactions between single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and molecules. We selected sodium cholate and single-stranded cytosine oligo-DNAs (dCn (n = 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 15, and 20)), both of which are typical SWNT solubilizers, and successfully determined thermodynamic properties (?G, ?H and ?S values) for the exchange reactions of sodium cholate on four different chiralities of SWNTs ((n,m) = (6,5), (7,5), (10,2), and (8,6)) for the DNAs. Typical results contain i) the dC5 exhibited an exothermic exchange, whereas the dC6, 8, 10, 15, and 20 materials exhibited endothermic exchanges, and ii) the energetics of the dC4 and dC7 exchanges depended on the associated chiral indices and could be endothermic or exothermic. The presented method is general and is applicable to any molecule that interacts with nanotubes. The study opens a way for science of carbon nanotube thermodynamics.
Project description:We report a high yield synthesis of single-wall boron nitride nanotubes (SWBNNTs) inside single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), a nano-templated reaction, using ammonia borane complexes (ABC) as a precursor. Transmission electron microscope (TEM), high angle annular dark field (HAADF)-scanning TEM (STEM), electron energy loss spectra (EELS) and high resolution EELS mapping using aberration-corrected TEM system clearly show the formation of thin SWBNNTs inside SWCNTs. We have found that the yield of the SWBNNT formation is high and that the most of ABC molecules decompose and fuse to form the thin BNNTs at a temperature of 1,673 K having a narrow diameter distribution of 0.7 ± 0.1 nm. Optical absorption measurements suggest that the band gap of the thin SWBNNTs is about 6.0 eV, which provide the ideal insulator nanotubes with very small diameters.
Project description:Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are newly developed nanomaterials with unique chemical and physical properties. Exposure to airborne CNTs in occupational settings or via consumer products is expected to increase significantly within the next decade due to the vigorous synthesis and applications of these materials in numerous consumer and industrial activities. Previous studies have shown that multiwalled CNT (MWCNT) induce pulmonary inflammation and pulmonary fibrosis. In the present study, we investigated genotoxic potential of MWCNTs. Female MutaMouse were exposed to 42.7 ug/mouse or 128 ug/mouse doses of MWCNTs Mitsui XNRi-7 or NM 401 once a week for four consecutive weeks. Doses were administered via intratracheal instillation. Lung tissues were collected 56 days post-exposure. Bronchoalveolar lavage(BAL) fluid cellularity, BAL and lung tissue DNA damage (COMET assay), lacz mutation frequency and global gene expression changes in lung tissue were determined.
Project description:Thermal tumor ablation therapies are being developed with a variety of nanomaterials, including single- and multiwalled carbon nanotubes. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have attracted interest due to their potential for simultaneous imaging and therapy. In this review, we highlight in vivo applications of carbon nanotube-mediated thermal therapy (CNMTT) and examine the rationale for use of this treatment in recurrent tumors or those resistant to conventional cancer therapies. Additionally, we discuss strategies to localize and enhance the cancer selectivity of this treatment and briefly examine issues relating the toxicity and long term fate of CNTs.