• Advances in nano research
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.245-251
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• 2017

Multiwalled carbon-nanotubes (MWCNT) and micro-structured carbon, such as biochar or activated carbon (AC), have been seen to significantly increase the growth indices of certain plant species such as maize (Zea mays L.). Seed imbibition is the stage where environmental factors that affect water transport across the seed coat barrier, make a large impact. This work explores the effect on water imbibition by maize seeds when the aqueous environment surrounding the seed is diluted by small concentrations (10 and 20 mg/l) of pristine MWCNT (p-MWCNT), carboxylate functionalized MWCNT (COO-MWCNT) and AC. The degree of sensitivity of the process to (i) large structural changes is seen by utilizing the nano (the MWCNT) and the micro (the AC) allotropic forms of carbon; (ii) to small changes in the purity and morphology of the p-MWCNT by utilizing 95% pure and 99% pure p-MWCNTs of slightly differing morphologies; and (iii) to MWCNT functionalization by using highly pure (97%) COO-MWCNT. Water imbibition was monitored over a 15 hour period by Near Infrared Thermography (NIRT) and also by seed weighing. Seed surface topography was seen by SEM imaging. Analysis of the NIRT images suggests rapid seed surface topological changes with the quantity of water imbibed. While further work is necessary to arrive at a conclusive answer, this work shows that the imbibition phase of the maize seed is sensitive to the presence of MWCNT even to small differences in the purity of the p-MWCNT and to small differences in the physicochemical properties of the medium caused by the hydrophilic COO-MWCNT.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.347-360
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• 2017

The goal of this study is to fill this apparent gap in the area about vibration analysis of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) curved panels by providing 3-D vibration analysis results for functionally graded multiwalled carbon nanotubes (FG-MWCNTs) sandwich structure with power-law distribution of nanotube. The effective material properties of the FG-MWCNT structures are estimated using a modified Halpin-Tsai equation. Modified Halpin-Tsai equation was used to evaluate the Young's modulus of MWCNT/epoxy composite samples by the incorporation of an orientation as well as an exponential shape factor in the equation. The exponential shape factor modifies the Halpin-Tsai equation from expressing a straight line to a nonlinear one in the MWCNTs wt% range considered. Also, the mass density and Poisson's ratio of the MWCNT/phenolic composite are considered based on the rule of mixtures. Parametric studies are carried out to highlight the influence of MWCNT volume fraction in the thickness, different types of CNT distribution, boundary conditions and geometrical parameters on vibrational behavior of FG-MWCNT thick curved panels. Because of using two-dimensional generalized differential quadrature method, the present approach makes possible vibration analysis of cylindrical panels with two opposite axial edges simply supported and arbitrary boundary conditions including Free, Simply supported and Clamped at the curved edges. For an overall comprehension on 3-D vibration analysis of sandwich panel, some mode shape contour plots are reported in this research work.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.11
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• pp.3391-3398
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• 2013

The carboxylated multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT-COOH) and functionalized with isatin derivative (MWCNT-isatin) have been used as efficient adsorbents for the removal of lead (Pb) from aqueous solutions. The influence of variables including pH, concentration of the lead, amount of adsorbents and contact time was investigated by the batch method. The adsorption of the lead ions from aqueous solution by modified MWCNTs was studied kinetically using different kinetic models. The kinetic data were fitted with pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, and intra-particle diffusion models. The sorption process with MWCNT-COOH and MWCNT-isatin was well described by pseudo-second-order and pseudo-first-order kinetics, respectively which it was agreed well with the experimental data. Also, it involved the particle-diffusion mechanism. The values of regression coefficient of various adsorption isotherm models like Langmuir, Freundlich and Tempkin to obtain the characteristic parameters of each model have been carried out. The Langmuir isotherm was found to best represent the measured sorption data for both adsorbent.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.18 no.7
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• pp.81-89
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• 2013

Concerns have been raised over the impact of nano materials on soil and groundwater environment with the increasing attention to the potential applications of carbon nano materials in various fields. Particularly, carbon nano materials introduced into water environment readily make complexes with humic acid (HA) due to their hydrophobic nature, so there have been increasing numbers of studies on the interaction between HA and carbon nano materials. In this study, we investigated the solubility of HA and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) in three different surfactant solutions of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), Brij 30 and Triton X-100, and evaluated whether the HA can be effectively desorbed from the surface of MWCNT by surfactant. The objective of this study was to determine the optimal adsorption condition for HA to MWCNT. Futhermore, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), Brij 30, Triton X-100 were used to elucidate the effect of desorption and separation on adsorbed HA on MWCNT. As a result, HA solution with 12.7 mg of total organic carbon (TOC) and 5 mg of MWCNT showed the highest adsorption capacity at pH 3 reacted for 72 hrs. Weight solubilizing ratio (WSR) of surfactants on HA and MWCNT was calculated. HA had approximately 2 times lower adsorption capacity for the applied three surfactants compared to those of MWCNT, implying that the desorption of HA may occur from the HA/MWCNT complex. According to the results of adsorption isotherm and weight solubilizing ratio (WSR), the most effective surfactants was the SDS 1% soluiton, showing 53.63% desorption of HA at pH 3.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.7
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• pp.2345-2351
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• 2012

Conductive honeycomb-patterned polystyrene (PS) thin films were prepared by the formation of a polyaniline (PANI) thin layer on the surface of the patterned PS thin films using simple one-step chemical oxidative polymerization of aniline. The in situ chemical oxidation polymerization of aniline hydrochloride solution on the patterned structure of the PS films was conducted in the presence of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) to prepare the PANI-MWCNT/PS composite film. The concentration (wt %) of MWCNT was varied in the range of 1%-3% by weight. The dependence of surface morphology of the PANI/PS and PANI-MWCNT/PS composite film to the polymerization time was observed by scanning electron microscopy. The room temperature DC conductivity was obtained by the four-probe technique. The conductivity of the PANI-MWCNT/PS composite film was affected both by the MWCNT concentration and polymerization time. In addition, DC electrical field was loaded during the oxidative polymerization to affect the distribution of the MWCNT included in the composite film, varying the loading voltage in the range of 0.1-3.0 V. The conductivity of the PANI-MWCNT/PS composite film was increased as loading voltage rose. However, this increase stops at a voltage higher than the critical value.

• Carbon letters
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.277-281
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• 2006

In this study, in order to easily provide functional groups on the surface of carbon nanotubes, dual structural multiwalled carbon nanotubes which have crystalline graphite and turbostratic carbon wall were synthesized by modified vertical thermal decomposition method. Synthesized dual structural MWCNTs were characterized by FE-SEM, TGA, HR-TEM, Raman spectroscopy and BET specific surface area analyzer. The average innermost and outermost diameters of the synthesized nanotubes were around 45 and 75 nm, respectively. The large empty inner space and the presence of graphitic carbons on the surface may open potential applications for gas storage and collection of hazardous materials.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.729-732
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• 2012

Herein we report the in-situ synthesis and direct decoration of chalcogenide naoparticles (NPs) onto multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) through an ionic liquid-assisted sonochemical method (ILASM). The as-obtained MWCNT/$BMimBF_4$/CdTe, MWCNT/$BMimBF_4$/ZnTe and MWCNT/$BMimBF_4$/ZnSe nanocomposites were characterized by TEM images and EDS spectra. In particular, the morphologies of nanocomposites such as bump-like, rough, and smooth core-shell structures were strongly influenced by the type of precursors and the interactions with MWCNT. This synthetic strategy opens a new way to directly synthesize and deposit semiconducting NPs (s-NPs) onto CNTs, which consist of binary components obtained from two precursors with different reaction rates.

• Proceedings of the Polymer Society of Korea Conference
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• 2006.10a
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• pp.279-279
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• 2006

We report a fabrication of carbon nanotube (CNT) monolayer thin film using liquid-liquid interface. The multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT), which were synthesized by the alumina template method formed a monolayer at the liquid-liquid interface after sonicating the MWCNT water-oil dispersion. Moreover, with the addition of ethanol, the MWCNT monlayer was also formed at the liquid-liquid interface. The monolayer is transferable onto solid substrates and the transferred film was observed using atomic force microscopy (AFM)

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.17 no.10
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• pp.1090-1094
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• 2004

Studies on porous oxide electrode, dye and electrolyte for dye-sensitized solar cells have been intensively carried out until now. However, counter electrode have not been much studied so far. Accordingly, it is needed to investigate new counter electrode materials with superior catalyst property and to substitute for Pt electrode. In this case, carbon nano-tubes (CNTs) are one of alternatives for counter electrodes as following merits: low resistivity, excellent electron emission property, large surface area and low cost due to development of mass production technique. Such advantages gave us to select multiwalled CNTs (MWCNT) as counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cell. Also, cyclic voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy were used to investigate electrochemical properties of both CNT electrode and Pt electrode. It was found that sheet resistance of CNT electrode was similar to that of Pt electrode, also, electrochemical properties of CNT electrode was superior to that of Pt electrode on the basis on the measurement of CV and impedance spectrum. It was found that CNT is likely to be a very promising electrode material for dye solar cells.

• Advanced Composite Materials
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.157-166
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• 2008

In this study, multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were compounded with the poly($\varepsilon$-caprolactone) (PCL) matrix at the solution state using chloroform. For homogeneous dispersion of MWCNTs in polymer matrix, oxygen-containing groups were introduced on the surface of MWCNTs. The mechanical properties of the PCL/MWCNTs composites were effectively increased due to the incorporation of MWCNTs. The composites were characterized using scanning electron microscopy in order to obtain information on the dispersion of MWCNT in the polymeric matrix. In case of 1.2 wt% of MWCNTs in the matrix, strength and modulus of the composite increased by 12.1% and 164.3%, respectively. In addition, the dispersion of MWCNTs in the PCL matrix resulted in substantial decrease of the electrical resistivity of the composites as the MWCNTs loading was increased from 0 to 2.0 wt%. Furthermore, thermal stability of the PCL and PCL/MWCNTs-COOH composites were investigated using the data acquired from the thermogravimetric analysis. The detailed kinetics of the thermal degradation of the composites was investigated by analyzing their thermal behavior at different heating rates in a nitrogen atmosphere. Activation energy of thermal degradation was determined by using the equations proposed by Kissinger and Flynn-Wall-Ozawa. The apparent activation energy of PCL/MWCNTs-COOH composite was considerably higher than that of neat PCL.