A supercritical carbon dioxide (SCC) process of dispersion of multi-walled carbon nano-tubes (MWCNTs) into epoxy resin has been developed to achieve MWCNT/epoxy com-posites (CECs) with improved mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties. The synthesis of CECs has been executed at a MWCNT (phr) concentration ranging from 0.1 to 0.3 into epoxy resin (0.1 mol) at 1800 psi, 90°C, and 1500 rpm over 1 h followed by curing of the MWCNT/epoxy formulations with triethylene tetramine (15 phr). The effect of SCC treat-ment on the qualitative dispersion of MWCNTs at various concentrations into the epoxy has been investigated through spectra analyses and microscopy. The developed SCC assisted process provides a good dispersion of MWCNTs into the epoxy up to a MWCNT concentra-tion of 0.2. The effects of SCC assisted dispersion at various concentrations of MWCNTs on modificationof mechanical, thermal, dynamic mechanical thermal, and tribological proper-ties and the electrical conductivity of CECs have been investigated.

In this work, we synthesized superhydrophobic coatings by chemical surface functionalization of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). This was accomplished through the radical polymerization of 3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyl methacrylate modified MWCNTs and fluoro acrylate/methyl methacrylate. The chemical compositions and microstructures of the prepared MWCNT surface were investigated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. The wettability of the MWCNTs surface was determined through contact angle assessments in different liquids. The resulting surface exhibited a water contact angle of 157.7˚, which is clear evidence of its superhydrophobicity. The 3D MWCNT networks and the low surface energy of the -C-C- and -C-F- groups play important roles in creating the superhydrophobic surface of the MWCNTs.

Polypyrrole (PPy)/multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) composites were prepared by in situ polymerization of pyrrole on the surface of MWCNTs templates to improve the ammonia gas sensing properties. PPy morphologies, formed on the surface of MWCNTs, were investigated by field emission scanning electron microscopy. The thermal stabilities of the PPy/MWCNTs composites were improved as the content of MWCNTs increased due to the higher thermal stability of the MWCNTs. PPy/MWCNTs composites showed synergistic effects in improving the ammonia gas sensing properties, attributed to the combination of efficient electron transfer between PPy/MWCNTs composites and ammonia gas, and the reproducible electrical resistance variation on PPy during the gas sensing process.

Well-aligned multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were successfully synthesized by catalytic chemical vapor deposition using a hydrogen sulfide (H2S) additive onto Al/Fe thin film deposited on Si wafers. Transmission electron microscopy images indicated that the as-grown carbon products were thin MWCNTs with small outer diameters of less than 10 nm. H2S plays a key role in synthesizing thin MWCNTs with a large inside hollow core. The well-aligned thin MWCNTs showed a low turn-on voltage of about 1.1 V/μm at a current density of 0.1 μA/cm2 and a high emission current of about 1.0 mA/cm2 at a bias field of 2.3 V/μm. We suggest a possible growth mechanism for the well-aligned thin MWCNTs with a large inside hollow core.

In this work, the effect of glycidyl methacrylate grafted multi-walled carbon nanotubes (GMA-MWCNTs) on the viscoelastic behaviors of polypropylene (PP) based nanocomposites was studied. The GMA-MWCNTs/PP was prepared using a bravender at 200℃ by melt mixing as a function of GMA-MWCNT content. The viscoelastic behaviors of GMA-MWCNTs/PP nanocomposites were measured by a rheometer. It was found that the GMA-MWCNTs were homogeneously dispersed in the PP matrix. The GMA-MWCNTs/PP nanocomposites showed higher storage modulus, loss modulus, and shear viscosity compared to pure PP nanocomposites and the maximum value was shown at 2.0 wt% GMA-MWCNTs loading. These results were probably attributed to the strong interfacial interaction between the GMA-MWCNT and the PP matrix.

Carbon nanotubes are unique tubular structures of nanometer diameter and large length/diameter ratio. The nanotubes may consist of one up to tens and hundreds of concentric shells of carbons with adjacent shells separation of ~0.34 nm. Multiwalled carbon nanotubes were synthesized by arc-discharge technique. MWCNTs were formed at the cathode deposit along with other carbonaceous materials like amorphous carbon, graphite etc. However, to get the best advantage of carbon nanotubes in various advanced applications, these undesired carbonaceous materials to be removed which is a challenging task. In the present study, various techniques were tried out for purifying MWCNTs such as physical filtration, chemical treatment and thermal annealing. SEM, FTIR, TGA and BET techniques were used to characterize the CNTs at various stages. Results shows that suitable chemical treatment followed by thermal annealing under controlled flow of oxygen gives the better route for purification of carbon nanotubes.

In this paper, the effect of electrical characteristics and electrode shape on the alignment and attachment of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) has been studied. The attraction and alignment of MWNTs between the gaps has been investigated by applying electric field which is called electrophoresis and dielectrophoresis. According to the frequency of electric field, positive or negative dielectrophoretic force can be determined. The concentration of MWNTs solution was , and a droplet of was dropped between two electrodes. Through the repeated experiments, the optimal electrical conditions for aligning and attaching MWNTs in the desired places were obtained. Since the frequency range of 100 kHz~10 MHz generated positive dielectrophoretic force, MWNTs were attracted and aligned between the gaps with this frequency range. For generating enough force to attract MWNTs, the appropriate voltage range was . Furthermore, the effect of electrode shape on the alignment of MWNTs was investigated. A single MWNT attachment was accomplished on the round shaped with 70% yield.

In this work, the effect of aminized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (NH-MWNTs) on the mechanical interfacial properties of epoxy nanocomposites was investigated by means of fracture toughness, critical stress intensity factor (KIC), and impact strength testing, and their morphology was examined by scanning electron microscope (SEM). It was found that the incorporation of amine groups onto MWNTs was confirmed by the FT-IR and Raman spectra. The mechanical interfacial properties of the epoxy nanocomposites were remarkably improved with increasing the NH-MWNT content. It was probably attributed to the strong physical interaction between amine groups of NH-MWNTs and epoxide groups of epoxy resins. The SEM micrographs showed that NH-MWNTs were uniformly embed and bonded with epoxy resins, resulted in the prevention of the deformation and crack propagation in the NH-MWNTs/epoxy nanocomposites.

The electrocatalytic characteristics of oxygen reduction reaction of the PtxM(1-x) (M = Co, Cu, Ni) supported on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) have been evaluated in a Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC). The PtxM(1-x)/MWNTs catalysts with a Pt : M atomic ratio of about 3 : 1 were synthesized and applied to the cathode of PEMFC. The crystalline structure and morphology images of the PtxM(1-x) particles were characterized by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy, respectively. The results showed that the crystalline structure of the Pt alloy particles in Pt/MWNTs and PtxM(1-x)/MWNTs catalysts are seen as FCC, and synthesized PtxM(1-x) crystals have lattice parameters smaller than the pure Pt crystal. According to the electrochemical surface area (ESA) calculated with cyclic voltammetry analysis, Pt0.77Co0.23/MWNTs catalyst has higher ESA than the other catalysts. The evaluation of a unit cell test using Pt/MWNTs or PtxM(1-x)/MWNTs as the cathode catalysts demonstrated higher cell performance than did a commercial Pt/C catalyst. Among the MWNTs-supported Pt and PtxM(1-x) (M = Co, Cu, Ni) catalysts, the Pt0.77Co0.23/MWNTs shows the highest performance with the cathode catalyst of PEMFC because they had the largest ESA.

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were synthesized on different substrates (bare Si and SiO2/Si substrate) to investigate dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) applications as counter electrode materials. The synthesis of MWNTs samples used identical conditions of a Fe catalyst created by thermal chemical vapor deposition at 900˚C. It was found that the diameter of the MWNTs on the Si substrate sample is approximately 5~10nm larger than that of a SiO2/Si substrate sample. Moreover, MWNTs on a Si substrate sample were well-crystallized in terms of their Raman spectrum. In addition, the MWNTs on Si substrate sample show an enhanced redox reaction, as observed through a smaller interface resistance and faster reaction rates in the EIS spectrum. The results show that DSSCs with a MWNT counter electrode on a bare Si substrate sample demonstrate energy conversion efficiency in excess of 1.4 %.

Carbon Nano Tubes could be either metallic or semi-conducting in nature, depending on their diameter. Its photocatalytic behavior has given an impetus to use it as an anti-microbial agent. More than 95% Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria got killed when exposed to Carbon Nano Tubes for 30 minutes in presence of sunlight. Carbon Nano Tubes are supposed to have smooth surface on to which it accumulates positive charges when exposed to light. The surface that is non illuminated has negative charge. At the cellular level microorganisms produce negative charges on the cell membrane, Therefore damaging effect of multi walled carbon nano tubes (exposed to light) on the microorganisms is possible. In this paper, photo catalytic killing of microbes by multi walled carbon nano tubes is reported. Killing was due to damage in the cell membrane, as seen in SEM micrographs. Moreover biochemical analysis of membrane as well as total cellular proteins by SDS PAGE showed that there was denaturation of membrane proteins as well as total proteins of both the microbes studied. The killed microbes that showed a decrease in number of protein bands (i.e. due to breaking down of proteins) also showed an increase in level of free amino acids in microbes. This further confirmed that proteins got denatured or broken down into shorter units of amino acids. Increased level of free amino acids was recorded in both the microbes treated with multi walled carbon nano tubes and sunlight.

The effect of cobalt precursor on the structure of Co supported multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were studied by using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). MWCNTs were treated with a mixture of nitric and sulfuric acids and decorated with cobalt and/or cobalt oxides via aqueous impregnation solutions of cobalt nitrate or cobalt acetate followed by reduction in hydrogen. XPS was mainly used to investigate the phase of cobalt on MWCNTs after reduction with H2 flow at 400℃ for 2 h. Higher cobalt-nanoparticle dispersion was found in the MWCNTS prepared via cobalt nitrate decomposition. A typical XPS spectrum of Co 2p showed the peaks at binding energy (BE) values equal to 781 and 797 eV, respectively. It is found that cobalt nitrate supported MWCNTs is more dispersive and have catalytic activity than that of cobalt acetate supported MWCNTs at same preparation condition such as concentration of precursor solution and reduction environment.

With the development of nanotechnology, nanomaterials are used in various fields. Therefore, the interest regarding the safety of nanomaterial use is increasing and much effort is diverted toward establishment of exposure assessment and management methods. Occupational exposure limits (OELs) are effectively used to protect the health of workers in various industrial workplaces. This study aimed to propose an OEL for domestic multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) based on animal inhalation toxicity test. Basic procedure for development of OELs was examined. For OEL estimation, epidemiological study and quantitative risk assessment are generally performed based on toxicity data. In addition, inhalation toxicity data-based no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) and benchmark dose (BMD) are estimated to obtain the OEL. Three different estimation processes (NEDO in Japan, NIOSH in USA, and Baytubes in Germany) of OELs for carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were intensively reviewed. From the rat inhalation toxicity test for MWCNTs manufactured in Korea, a NOAEL of 0.98 mg/㎥ was derived. Using the simple equation for estimation of OEL suggested by NEDO, the OEL of 142 μg/㎥ was estimated for the MWCNT manufacturing workplace. Here, we used test rat and Korean human data and adopted 36 as an uncertainty factor. The OEL for MWCNT estimated in this work is higher than those (2-80 μg/㎥) suggested by previous investigators. It may be greatly caused by different physicochemical properties of MWCNT and their dispersion method and test rat data. For setting of regulatory OELs in CNT workplaces, further epidemiological studies in addition to animal studies are needed. More advanced technical methods such as CNT dispersion in air and liquid should be also developed.