The synthesis of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) using a chemical vapour deposition (CVD) method requires the use of hydrocarbon as the carbon precursor. Among the commonly used hydrocarbons are methane and acetylene, which are both light gas-phase substances. Besides that, other carbon-rich sources, such as carbon monoxide and coal, have also been reportedly used. Nowadays, researches have also been conducted into utilising heavier hydrocarbons and petrochemical products for the production of CNTs, such as kerosene and diesel oil. Therefore, this article reviews the different kind of hydrocarbon sources for CNTs production using a CVD method. The method is used for it allows the decomposition of the carbon-rich source with the aid of a catalyst at a temperature in the range 600-1200°C. This synthesis technique gives an advantage as a high yield and high-quality CNTs can be produced at a relatively low cost process. As compared to other processes for CNTs production such as arc discharge and laser ablation, they may produce high quality CNTs but has a disadvantage for use as large scale synthesis routes.
Carbon in its single entity and various forms has been used in technology and human life for many centuries. Since prehistoric times, carbon-based materials such as graphite, charcoal and carbon black have been used as writing and drawing materials. In the past two and a half decades or so, conjugated carbon nanomaterials, especially carbon nanotubes, fullerenes, activated carbon and graphite have been used as energy materials due to their exclusive properties. Due to their outstanding chemical, mechanical, electrical and thermal properties, carbon nanostructures have recently found application in many diverse areas; including drug delivery, electronics, composite materials, sensors, field emission devices, energy storage and conversion, etc. Following the global energy outlook, it is forecasted that the world energy demand will double by 2050. This calls for a new and efficient means to double the energy supply in order to meet the challenges that forge ahead. Carbon nanomaterials are believed to be appropriate and promising (when used as energy materials) to cushion the threat. Consequently, the amazing properties of these materials and greatest potentials towards greener and environment friendly synthesis methods and industrial scale production of carbon nanostructured materials is undoubtedly necessary and can therefore be glimpsed as the focal point of many researchers in science and technology in the 21st century. This is based on the incredible future that lies ahead with these smart carbon-based materials. This review is determined to give a synopsis of new advances towards their synthesis, properties, and some applications as reported in the existing literatures.
The roles of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) and functionalised multiwalled carbon nanotubes (fMWNTs) in enhancing the efficacy of urea fertilizer (UF) as plant nutrition for local MR219 paddy variety was investigated. The MWNTs and fMWNTs were grafted onto UF to produce UF-MWNTs fertilizer with three different conditions, coded as FMU1 (0.6 wt. % fMWNTs), FMU2 (0.1 wt. % fMWNTs) and MU (0.6 wt. % MWNTs. The batches of MR219 paddy were systematically grown in accordance to the general practice performed by the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI). The procedure was conducted using a pot under exposure to natural light at three different fertilization times; after a certain number of days of sowing (DAS) at 14, 35 and 55 days. Interestingly, it was found that the crop growth of plants treated with FMU1 and FMU2 significantly increased by 22.6% and 38.5% compared to plants with MU addition. Also, paddy treated with FMU1 produced 21.4% higher number of panicles and 35% more grain yield than MU while paddy treated with FMU2 gave 28.6% more number of panicles and 36% higher grain yield than MU, which implies the advantage of fMWNTs over MWNTs to be combined with UF as plant nutrition. The chemical composition and morphology of UF-MWNTs fertilizers which is further characterised by FTiR and FESEM confirmed the successful and homogeneous grafting of UF onto the fMWNTs.
Without nanosafety guidelines, the long-term sustainability of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) for water purifications is questionable. Current risk measurements of CNTs are overshadowed by uncertainties. New risks associated with CNTs are evolving through different waste water purification routes, and there are knowledge gaps in the risk assessment of CNTs based on their physical properties. Although scientific efforts to design risk estimates are evolving, there remains a paucity of knowledge on the unknown health risks of CNTs. The absence of universal CNT safety guidelines is a specific hindrance. In this paper, we close these gaps and suggested several new risk analysis roots and framework extrapolations from CNT-based water purification technologies. We propose a CNT safety clock that will help assess risk appraisal and management. We suggest that this could form the basis of an acceptable CNT safety guideline. We pay particular emphasis on measuring risks based on CNT physico-chemical properties such as diameter, length, aspect ratio, type, charge, hydrophobicity, functionalities and so on which determine CNT behaviour in waste water treatment plants and subsequent release into the environment.
This study presents the sensitivity of graphene nanoribbon (GNR) when exposed to ammonia gas at room temperature. Alumina were used as a substrate and coated with GNR as sensing film for ammonia gas detection. Four different concentration of GNR in the category of maximum, high, low, and minimum were prepared. Each category of GNR will be dispersed on alumina substrate with area of 1cm2 and 4cm2. 30nm of gold contacts are sputtered on both ends of the sensing film. The ammonia gas can be detected by measuring the changes in resistance. The GNR as ammonia sensor shows good responses at room temperature. In repeatability test, maximum GNR shows least variation when exposed to ammonia with the value of 1.01% (4cm2) and 2.12% (1cm2). In a sensitivity test, 0.25% to 1.00% of ammonia gas was used and tested on maximum GNR. Maximum GNR on 4cm2 substrate shows higher sensitivity as compared to 1cm2. Reaction time of GNR on ammonia gas decreased as the concentration of ammonia increased. Larger surface area of sensing element required lesser reaction time.
The search for effective and non-invasive delivery modules to transport therapeutic molecules across skin has led to the discovery of a number of nanocarriers (viz.: liposomes, ethosomes, dendrimers, etc.) in the last few decades. However, available literature suggests that these delivery modules face several issues including poor stability, low encapsulation efficiency, and scale-up hurdles. Recently, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) emerged as a versatile tool to deliver therapeutics across skin. Superior stability, high loading capacity, well-developed synthesis protocol as well as ease of scale-up are some of the reason for growing interest in CNTs. CNTs have a unique physical architecture and a large surface area with unique surface chemistry that can be tailored for vivid biomedical applications. CNTs have been thus largely engaged in the development of transdermal systems such as tuneable hydrogels, programmable nonporous membranes, electroresponsive skin modalities, protein channel mimetic platforms, reverse iontophoresis, microneedles, and dermal buckypapers. In addition, CNTs were also employed in the development of RNA interference (RNAi) based therapeutics for correcting defective dermal genes. This review expounds the state-of-art synthesis methodologies, skin penetration mechanism, drug liberation profile, loading potential, characterization techniques, and transdermal applications along with a summary on patent/regulatory status and future scope of CNT based skin therapeutics.
Despite its large band gap, ZnO has wide applicability in many fields ranging from gas sensors to solar cells. ZnO was chosen over other materials because of its large exciton binding energy (60 meV) and its stability to high-energy radiation. In this study, ZnO nanorods were deposited on ITO glass via a simple dip coating followed by a hydrothermal growth. The morphological, structural and compositional characteristics of the prepared films were analyzed using X-ray diffractometry (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis). Photoelectrochemical conversion efficiencies were evaluated via photocurrent measurements under calibrated halogen lamp illumination. Thin film prepared at 120 °C for 4 h of hydrothermal treatment possessed a hexagonal wurtzite structure with the crystallite size of 19.2 nm. The average diameter of the ZnO nanorods was 37.7 nm and the thickness was found to be 2680.2 nm. According to FESEM images, as the hydrothermal growth temperature increases, the nanorod diameter become smaller. Moreover, the thickness of the nanorods increase with the growth time. Therefore, the sample prepared at 120 °C for 4 h displayed an impressive photoresponse by achieving high current density of 0.1944 mA/cm².
Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were synthesized by catalytic chemical vapor deposition (CCVD) of ethanol (C2H5OH) over Fe-Mo-MgO catalyst by using argon as a carrier gas. The reaction conditions are important factors that influence the yield and quality of carbon nanotubes. The effects of temperature and flow rate of carrier gas were investigated to increase the yield of carbon nanotubes. The synthesized carbon nanotubes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-Ray diffraction and thermo-gravimetric analysis. The results showed that the growth of carbon nanotubes was effectively influenced by the reaction ambience and the synthesis condition. The temperature and flow rate of carrier gas played a key role in the yield and quality of synthesized CNTs. The estimated yield of synthesized carbon nanotubes was almost over 70%.
Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) has become as promising candidate for antibacterial agents against Escherichia coli (E.coli), commensal hospital- acquired infections (HAIs). This study investigates the antibacterial action of ZnO NPs in three difference shapes; nanorod, nanoflakes and nanospheres against E.coli ATCC 25922. The antibacterial activity of ZnO NPs was determine through two standard protocols known as Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) MO2-A11 under light conditions of 5.70 w/m2 and American standard test method (ASTM) E-2149. Preliminary screening shows ZnO NPs did not inhibit the growth of E.coli. Further analysis using ASTM E-2149 in dynamic conditions revealed antibacterial activity after 3 hours with 100% reduction for ZnO NPs nanoflakes and 6 hours with 94.63% reduction for ZnO nanospheres, respectively. It demonstrated the ZnO NPs in nanoflakes and nanospheres exerted higher antibacterial activity possibly through release of ios, free radicals, ROS generation and electrostatic collision which contribute to bacterial death. Further analysis is needed to investigate biocompatibility of these samples for future biomedical applications.
Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs)-polyester nanocomposites with four different concentrations were produced using solution casting technique and the biodegradation effect of short-term seawater exposure (120 h) was studied. Monolithic polyester was observed to have the highest seawater absorption with 1.37%. At 0.3 wt % HNTs reinforcement, the seawater absorption dropped significantly to the lowest value of 0.77% due to increase of liquid diffusion path. For samples tested in dry conditions, the Tg, storage modulus, tensile properties and flexural properties were improved. The highest improvement of Tg was from 79.3 to 82.4 °C (increase 3.1 °C) in the case of 0.3 wt % HNTs. This can be associated with the exfoliated HNTs particles, which restrict the mobility of polymer chains and thus raised the Tg. After seawater exposure, the Tg, storage modulus, tensile properties and flexural properties of polyester and its nanocomposites were decreased. The Young's modulus of 0.3 wt % HNTs-polyester dropped 20% while monolithic polyester dropped up to 24% compared to their values in dry condition. Apart from that, 29% flexural modulus reduction was observed, which was 18% higher than monolithic polyester. In contrast, fracture toughness and surface roughness increased due to plasticization effect. The presence of various microbial communities caused gradual biodegradation on the microstructure of the polyester matrix as also evidently shown by SEM images.
In this paper, fabrication and investigation of organic pressure sensor based on AlICIVT-VO 2(3j7)ICu composite is reported. The active layer of the composite was deposited by drop-casting of the blend CN'T-VO 2 (3fl) on a glass substrate (with prefabricated copper (Cu) electrode). The thin film of the blend consists of carbon nanotube CNT, (2.55 wt. %) and vanadium oxide (VO 2 (3fl)) micropowder, (3 wt. %) in benzol (1 mL). The thickness of the composite was in the range of 20-40 ,um. It was found that the fabricated sensor was sensitive to pressure and showed good repeatability. The decrease in resistance of the sensor was observed by increasing the external uniaxial pressure up to 50 kNm-2 . The experimentally obtained results were compared with the simulated results and showed reasonable agreement with each other.
Composite materials have increasingly become crucial in manufacturing engineering products and producing commodity
materials in the major industries including; automotive, aerospace, marine, construction, agriculture and health science.
However, several improvements regarding the strength, dimensional stability and the cost of production are required.
In this study, composite of Kenaf, multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) and polypropylene (PP) with maleic anhydridegrafted
polypropylene (MAPP) are examined. The results highlight that increasing MAPP loading, in turn, increases the
value of the mechanical properties. The composites are produced by blending kenaf/MWCNT/PP using a Sigma blade
mixer and injection moulding. Injection moulding is a significant operation used to produce plastic products. In the
study, Kenaf core fibre was mixed with MWCNT and polypropylene, in addition to MAPP. The MAPP is added by applying
different percentage (1, 2, 3 and 4 wt. %) during the blending process. The main objective of the study was to analyse the
effects of MAPP concentrations on the mechanical properties of the Kenaf/MWCNT/PP composite. The results of the study
established that MAPP 3 wt. % concentration with MWCNT 3 wt. % loading and Kenaf 30 wt. % filler provide optimum
results for the composites. There was approximately, a 21% enhance in tensile strength of Kenaf 30 wt. %/MWCNT, 3 wt.
%/MAPP, 3 wt. %/PP observed compared to the (without) MAPP composite. The composites with coupling agent stimulate
better filler dispersion between Kenaf, MWCNT and PP observed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and fieldemission
scanning electron microscope (FESEM).
Titanium dioxide (TiO2
) with various morphologies has been successfully synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method
at 150o
C for 10 h using titanium butoxide (TBOT) as a precursor, deionized (DI) water and hydrochloric acid (HCl) on
a fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrate. The influences of HCl volume on structural and morphological properties
of TiO2
have been studied using x-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM),
respectively. The result showed that several morphologies such as microsphere, microrods, nanorods and nanoflowers
were obtained by varying the volume of hydrochloric acid. The crystallinity of titanium dioxide enhanced with the
increasing of hydrochloric acid volume.
In this study, the performance of two types of nanocarbons (NCs), namely carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and carbon nanofibers (CNFs), on the three-dimensional shrinkage and swelling properties of three clayey soils were investigated. The specimens of soil mixed with clay with bentonite contents of 0, 10 and 20% by weight of dry soil. NC contents of 0.05, 0.075, 0.10 and 0.20% were chosen to investigate the influence of different NC types, CNTs and CNFs. All soil specimens were compacted under maximum dry unit weight and optimum water content conditions by using standard compaction tests. The physical and mechanical characteristics of the reinforced samples were then determined. These included the desiccation cracking area, used to determine the crack intensity factor (CIF), as well as the shrinkage and swelling. The CIF for the soil specimens without NCs were higher than the soil specimens with NC additives. These results show that NCs decrease the development of desiccation cracks on the surface of compacted samples. The shrinkage and swelling tests showed that the rate of volume changing of the compacted soil specimens reduced with the increasing of NCs.
Electrochemical biosensors have shown great potential in the medical diagnosis field. The performance of electrochemical biosensors depends on the sensing materials used. ZnO nanostructures play important roles as the active sites where biological events occur, subsequently defining the sensitivity and stability of the device. ZnO nanostructures have been synthesized into four different dimensional formations, which are zero dimensional (nanoparticles and quantum dots), one dimensional (nanorods, nanotubes, nanofibers, and nanowires), two dimensional (nanosheets, nanoflakes, nanodiscs, and nanowalls) and three dimensional (hollow spheres and nanoflowers). The zero-dimensional nanostructures could be utilized for creating more active sites with a larger surface area. Meanwhile, one-dimensional nanostructures provide a direct and stable pathway for rapid electron transport. Two-dimensional nanostructures possess a unique polar surface for enhancing the immobilization process. Finally, three-dimensional nanostructures create extra surface area because of their geometric volume. The sensing performance of each of these morphologies toward the bio-analyte level makes ZnO nanostructures a suitable candidate to be applied as active sites in electrochemical biosensors for medical diagnostic purposes. This review highlights recent advances in various dimensions of ZnO nanostructures towards electrochemical biosensor applications.
The enhancement of microwave absorbing properties in nickel zinc ferrite (Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4) via multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) growth is studied in this research work. Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 was initially synthesized by mechanical alloying followed by sintering at 1200 °C and the microstructural, electromagnetic and microwave characteristics have been scrutinized thoroughly. The sintered powder was then used as a catalyst to grow MWCNT derived from chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method. The sample was mixed with epoxy resin and a hardener for preparation of composites. The composite of multi-walled carbon nanotubes/Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 shown a maximum reflection loss (RL) of -19.34 dB at the frequency and bandwidth of 8.46 GHz and 1.24 GHz for an absorber thickness of 3 mm for losses less than -10 dB. This acquired result indicates that multi-walled carbon nanotubes/Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 could be used as a microwave absorber application in X-band.
An increase of nucleate pool boiling with the use of different fluid properties has received much attention. In particular, the presence of nanostructures in fluids to enhance boiling was given special consideration. This study compares the effects of graphene nanoplatelet (GNP), functionalized GNP with polyethylene glycol (PEG), and multiwalled carbon nanotube (CNT) nanofluids on the pool boiling heat transfer coefficient and the critical heat flux (CHF). Our findings showed that at the same concentration, CHF for functionalized GNP with PEG (GNP-PEG)/deionized water (DW) nanofluids was higher in comparison with GNP- and CNT-based nanofluids. The CHF of the GNP/DW nanofluids was also higher than that of CNT/DW nanofluids. The CHF of GNP-PEG was 72% greater than that of DW at the concentration of 0.1 wt %. There is good agreement between measured critical heat fluxes and the Kandlikar correlation. In addition, the current results proved that the GNP-PEG/DW nanofluids are highly stable over 3 months at a concentration of 0.1 wt %.
Recent advances in nanotechnology have revealed the superiority of nanocarbon species such as carbon nanotubes over other conventional materials for gas sensing applications. In this work, analytical modeling of the semiconducting zigzag carbon nanotube field-effect transistor (ZCNT-FET) based sensor for the detection of gas molecules is demonstrated. We propose new analytical models to strongly simulate and investigate the physical and electrical behavior of the ZCNT sensor in the presence of various gas molecules (CO2, H2O, and CH4). Therefore, we start with the modeling of the energy band structure by acquiring the new energy dispersion relation for the ZCNT and introducing the gas adsorption effects to the band structure model. Then, the electrical conductance of the ZCNT is modeled and formulated while the gas adsorption effect is considered in the conductance model. The band structure analysis indicates that, the semiconducting ZCNT experiences band gap variation after the adsorption of the gases. Furthermore, the bandgap variation influences the conductance of the ZCNT and the results exhibit increments of the ZCNT conductance in the presence of target gases while the minimum conductance shifted upward around the neutrality point. Besides, the I-V characteristics of the sensor are extracted from the conductance model and its variations after adsorption of different gas molecules are monitored and investigated. To verify the accuracy of the proposed models, the conductance model is compared with previous experimental and modeling data and a good consensus is observed. It can be concluded that the proposed analytical models can successfully be applied to predict sensor behavior against different gas molecules.
A thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) based nanocomposite with the same weight ratio of hybrid nanofillers composed of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and montmorillonite nanoclay (DK4) was prepared using a melt blending technique with an internal mixer. The TPE composite was blended from polylactic acid (PLA), liquid natural rubber (LNR) as a compatibilizer and natural rubber (NR) in a volume ratio of 70:10:20, respectively. The weight ratio of CNTs and DK4 was 2.5 wt%. The prepared samples were exposed to gamma radiation at range of 0-250 kGy. After exposure to gamma radiation, the mechanical, thermo-mechanical, thermal and electrical conductivity properties of the composites were significantly higher than unirradiated TPE composites as the irradiation doses increased up to 150 kGy. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) micrographs revealed the good distribution and interaction between the nano-fillers and the matrix in the prepared TPE hybrid nanocomposites. In summary, the findings from this work definite that gamma irradiation might be a viable treatment to improve the properties of TPE nanocomposite for electronic packaging applications.
In recent years considerable attention has been attracted to magnesium because of its light weight, high specific strength, and ease of recycling. Because of the growing demand for lightweight materials in aerospace, medical and automotive industries, magnesium-based metal matrix nanocomposites (MMNCs) reinforced with ceramic nanometer-sized particles, graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) or carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were developed. CNTs have excellent material characteristics like low density, high tensile strength, high ratio of surface-to-volume, and high thermal conductivity that makes them attractive to use as reinforcements to fabricate high-performance, and high-strength metal-matrix composites (MMCs). Reinforcing magnesium (Mg) using small amounts of CNTs can improve the mechanical and physical properties in the fabricated lightweight and high-performance nanocomposite. Nevertheless, the incorporation of CNTs into a Mg-based matrix faces some challenges, and a uniform distribution is dependent on the parameters of the fabricating process. The characteristics of a CNTs reinforced composite are related to the uniform distribution, weight percent, and length of the CNTs, as well as the interfacial bonding and alignment between CNTs reinforcement and the Mg-based matrix. In this review article, the recent findings in the fabricating methods, characterization of the composite's properties, and application of Mg-based composites reinforced with CNTs are studied. These include the strategies of fabricating CNT-reinforced Mg-based composites, mechanical responses, and corrosion behaviors. The present review aims to investigate and conclude the most relevant studies conducted in the field of Mg/CNTs composites. Strategies to conquer complicated challenges are suggested and potential fields of Mg/CNTs composites as upcoming structural material regarding functional requirements in aerospace, medical and automotive industries are particularly presented.