Towards 3D self-assembled rolled multiwall carbon nanotube structures by spontaneous peel off.

Jonathan Quinson

doi:10.3762/bjnano.11.168

Abstract

Controlling the 3D assembly of individual nanomaterials can be a challenging task. However, it opens up opportunities for the production of increasingly complex nanostructures. Unusual rolled multiwall carbon nanotube structures are synthesized here by simply inducing a change of precursor composition during the growth of multiwall carbon nanotube forests. The multiwall carbon nanotube structures are comprised of nitrogen-doped and undoped sections, and are obtained via a detailed peel off and roll mechanism. These results open new doors for the development of increasingly complex nanostructures.

Highlights

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are popular materials used in various applications [1]
To develop new ways to induce a compositional change within CNTs and to optimize the formation of complex CNT structures, the possibility to couple aerosol-assisted chemical vapor deposition (AACVD) [20] and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) was explored [16]
The coupling of AACVD and CVD leads to multiwall CNTs (MWCNTs) with a compositional change [16]

Summary

Introduction

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are popular materials used in various applications [1]. These tubular hollow carbon nanomaterials have proven to be useful in multiple scientific fields [2,3,4,5,6]. Complex structures with increasingly controlled properties are obtained having CNTs as building blocks. 3D structures made of CNTs can be synthesized on supports as selfassembled “forests” [7]. These structures have been employed in biomedical applications [7], chromatography [8], or filtration [9]. “Sponges” or “cages” can be produced by freeze-drying preformed CNTs [10] or by etching template materials [11]

Results

Discussion

Conclusion