Nanoscratch technique for aligning multiwalled carbon nanotubes synthesized by the arc discharge method in open air

Bulletin of materials science

M Jagannatham¹  Prathap Haridoss¹  A Joseph Berkmans¹ 

[1] Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600 036, Tamilnadu, India$$Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600 036, Tamilnadu, IndiaDepartment of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600 036, Tamilnadu, India$$

关键词: Carbon nanotube;    arc discharge;    characterization;    alignment;    nanoscratch.;   

DOI  :  

学科分类：材料工程

来源: Indian Academy of Sciences

【 摘 要 】

Horizontally aligned and densely packed multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were synthesized in an open air, without the need for a controlled atmosphere, using a rotating cathode arc discharge method with the help of a metal scraper. The physical force exerted by the scraper results in in-situ alignment of MWCNTs along the direction of scrape marks. This strategy, which enables the alignment of nanotubes in a controlled fashion to any length and direction of interest, was examined to determine the force required to align a nanotube. A model is developed to understand the alignment process. Using the nanoscratch technique to mimic this strategy, and incorporating the data obtained from the nanoscratch technique into the model developed, the minimum force required to align a MWCNT, as well as the energy required to align a gram of nanotubes, has been estimated. The method demonstrated represents an economical approach for large-scale synthesis of aligned MWCNTs at low costs.

【 授权许可】

Unknown