Wall Carbon Nanotube Films Research Articles

Potential dependent surface Raman spectroscopy of single wall carbon nanotube films on platinum electrodes

The analysis of the resonance Raman spectra of single-walled carbon nanotubes in an electrochemically controlled aqueous H 2SO 4 environment using different laser excitation energies shows major reversible and irreversible differences in the main vibrational features regarding their intensities, lineshapes, and frequencies for different applied potentials. These differences arise from the electrochemically induced changes in the occupation of electronic states for metallic and semiconducting nanotubes.

Magnetically aligned single wall carbon nanotube films: Preferred orientation and anisotropic transport properties

Thick films of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT) exhibiting in-plane preferred orientation have been produced by filter deposition from suspension in strong magnetic fields. We characterize the field-induced alignment with x-ray fiber diagrams and polarized Raman scattering, using a model which includes a completely unaligned fraction. We correlate the texture parameters with resistivity and thermal conductivity measured parallel and perpendicular to the alignment direction. Results obtained with 7 and 26 T fields are compared. We find no significant field dependence of the distribution width, while the aligned fraction is slightly greater at the higher field. Anisotropy in both transport properties is modest, with ratios in the range 5–9, consistent with the measured texture parameters assuming a simple model of rigid rod conductors. We suggest that further enhancements in anisotropic properties will require optimizing the filter deposition process rather than larger magnetic fields. We show that both x-ray and Raman data are required for a complete texture analysis of oriented SWNT materials.

Terahertz conductivity of anisotropic single walled carbon nanotube films

Absorption and dispersion of singlewalled carbon nanotube films were measured using an optoelectronic THz beam system for THz time-domain spectroscopy. The anisotropically aligned nanotube films were prepared through simple mechanical squeezing with a bar coater. The angle-dependent absorption and dispersion values were then measured. Results indicate that the index of refraction decreases with increasing frequency (0.1–0.8 THz), whereas the real conductivity increases with increasing frequency. The real conductivity measured is not congruent with the simple Drude model, but it follows a Maxwell–Garnett model, where the nanotubes are embedded in a dielectric host.

Doping mechanism in single-wall carbon nanotubes studied by optical absorption

We have separately probed the doping behavior of semiconducting and metallic single wall carbon nanotube (SWNT) films, by optical absorption and dc resistance measurements. Either electron acceptors (Br 2, I 2) or donors (K, Cs) were used as dopants with controlled stoichiometry. Disappearance of the absorption bands at 0.7, 1.2 (assigned to semiconducting SWNT) and 1.8 eV (assigned to metallic SWNT) and the concomitant decrease of resistance due to doping were attributed to electron depletion or filling in specific bands of semiconducting or metallic SWNT. This demonstrates the amphoteric doping behavior of SWNT. Semiconducting and metallic SWNT undergo charge transfer in a specific sequence: initially the transition at 0.7 eV, subsequently around 1.2 eV and finally the feature at 1.8 eV are affected depending on the concentration of the dopant. Changes in the electronic properties are discussed in terms of charge transfer mechanisms in the framework of the rigid-band model.

Electrical and thermal transport properties of magnetically aligned single wall carbon nanotube films

Dense, thick films of aligned single wall carbon nanotubes and nanotube ropes have been produced by filtration/deposition from suspension in strong magnetic fields. Electrical resistivity exhibits moderate anisotropy with respect to the alignment axis, while the thermopower is the same when measured parallel or perpendicular to this axis. Both parameters have identical temperature dependencies in the two orientations. Thermal conductivity in the parallel direction exceeds 200 W/mK, within a decade of graphite.

Structural anisotropy of magnetically aligned single wall carbon nanotube films

Thick films of aligned single wall carbon nanotubes and ropes have been produced by filtration/deposition from suspension in strong magnetic fields. We measured mosaic distributions of rope orientations in the film plane, for samples of different thicknesses. For an ∼1 μm film the full width at half maximum (FWHM) derived from electron diffraction is 25°–28°. The FWHM of a thicker film (∼7 μm) measured by x-ray diffraction is slightly broader, 35±3°. Aligned films are denser than ordinary filter-deposited ones, and much denser than as-grown material. Optimization of the process is expected to yield smaller FWHMs and higher densities.

Rhenium-bearing thermocouples : Battelle tech. rev., 12 (1963) 12

In this article a study of chemiresistor sensors based on Single and Multi Wall Carbon Nanotube films deposited at low temperature by means of a spray technique is presented. A dispersion of nanotube powder in a non-polar 1,2-Dichloroethane solvent was used as starting solution. Electron Microscopy in Scanning and Transmission mode were used in order to verify the morphological properties of the deposited films. The conductivity of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was measured in two organic solvent vapors environments: 2-propanol and carbon-tetrachloride. The solvents used are characterized by different polarities. The results show that the electrical resistance of the sensors increases when exposed to solvent vapors. Finally the effect of Teflon-like and Melanin coatings on the sensitivity yield is presented and discussed.