Abstract
In this study, we focus on processing and characterizing composite material structures made of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and reproducibly engineering macro-pores inside their structure. Highly porous bucky-papers were fabricated from pure carbon nanotubes by dispersing and stabilizing large 1 μm polystyrene beads within a carbon nanotube suspension. The polystyrene beads, homogeneously dispersed across the thickness of the bucky-papers, were then either dissolved or carbonized to generate macro cavities of different shape and properties. The impact of adding these macro cavities on the porosity, specific surface area and Young’s modulus was investigated and some benefits of the macro cavities will be demonstrated.
Highlights
Carbon nanotube (CNT) composite materials have been investigated since their discovery
Composite poly(styrene) beads/BPs were fabricated from pure CNTs and templated with 1 μm polystyrene sacrificial beads
Scanning Electron Micrographs (SEM) of sample cross sections were obtained by Focus Ion Beam (FIB) milling the surface of the BPs with a Gallium ion beam
Summary
Carbon nanotube (CNT) composite materials have been investigated since their discovery. It was shown that after being tested in compression their initial geometries and dimensions could be nearly fully restored by immersing them in an appropriate solvent [11]. Tuning their pore size distribution [12] or surface porosity by dissolving poly(styrene) spheres was reported [13] and showed high promise in engineering macro-structured membranes but issues related to pore cloaking and to reduced diffusion were raised. Composite poly(styrene) beads/BPs were fabricated from pure CNTs and templated with 1 μm polystyrene sacrificial beads. The impact of adding these macro cavities on the porosity, specific surface area and Young’s modulus was investigated and some benefits of the macro cavities will be demonstrated
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