Abstract
Transforming individual carbon nanotubes (CNTs) into bulk form is necessary for the utilization of the extraordinary properties of CNTs in sensor applications. Individual CNTs are randomly arranged when transformed into the bulk structure in the form of buckypaper. The random arrangement has many pores among individual CNTs, which can be treated as gaps or defects contributing to the degradation of CNT properties in the bulk form. A novel technique of filling these gaps is successfully developed in this study and termed as a gap-filling technique (GFT). The GFT is implemented on SWCNT-based buckypaper in which the pores are filled through small-size MWCNTs, resulting in a ~45.9% improvement in packing density. The GFT is validated through the analysis of packing density along with characterization and surface morphological study of buckypaper using Raman spectrum, particle size analysis, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and optical microscopy. The sensor characteristics parameters of buckypaper are investigated using a dynamic mechanical analyzer attached with a digital multimeter. The percentage improvement in the electrical conductivity, tensile gauge factor, tensile strength and failure strain of a GFT-implemented buckypaper sensor are calculated as 4.11 ± 0.61, 44.81 ± 1.72, 49.82 ± 8.21 and 113.36 ± 28.74, respectively.
Highlights
The discovery of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by Iijima [1] led to extensive research for the utilization of these unique structures with extraordinary properties in the field of electrical storage devices [2,3], digital electronics devices [4,5], structure health monitoring (SHM) sensors [6,7] and concrete reinforcement applications [8,9], etc
The impact of gap-filling technique (GFT) onParameters the sensing characteristics of buckypaper was studied in dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA), which was electrically connected with digital multimeter having an interface with LabVIEW
The impact of GFT on the sensing characteristics of buckypaper was studied in DMA, which was characteristics of buckypaper considered in this study were, electrical conductivity, gauge factor (GF), tensile strength, electrically connected with digital multimeter having an interface with LabVIEW
Summary
The discovery of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by Iijima [1] led to extensive research for the utilization of these unique structures with extraordinary properties in the field of electrical storage devices [2,3], digital electronics devices [4,5], structure health monitoring (SHM) sensors [6,7] and concrete reinforcement applications [8,9], etc. The elimination/minimization of these gaps can lead to improve the packing density of buckypaper, which can result in significant improvement in the sensing characteristics of buckypaper, including improved piezoresistivity to get superior sensitivity of the sensor, improved mechanical properties to get a higher level of strain monitoring regions and superior electrical conductivity to lower the energy consumption of sensor systems. The novelty of GFT is based on the establishment of a generalized criterion for the selection of the dimensions and quantity of gap-filler CNTs, resulting in the improvement of buckypaper sensing characteristics. The CNT-based buckypapers are fabricated using the vacuum filtration process, and the pores of the bulk structure of CNTs are filled with the addition of a small quantity of shorter size CNTs, resulting in the significant improvement of packing density. The enhanced sensor characteristics can open new avenues of using CNTs buckypaper based sensors commercially in industrial applications
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