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Tuning array morphology for high-strength carbon-nanotube fibers
Lianxi Zheng1, Gengzhi Sun, Zhaoyao Zhan
1School of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore. lxzheng@ntu.edu.sg
Small (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|November 11, 2009
Summary
Controlling carbon nanotube array morphology with hydrogen or oxygen during synthesis significantly impacts fiber strength. Well-aligned structures, achieved with hydrogen, yield 4.5x stronger carbon nanotube fibers compared to oxygen-treated ones.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Vertically aligned carbon nanotube (VACNT) arrays are crucial for advanced materials.
- The mechanical properties of carbon nanotube (CNT) fibers depend heavily on the morphology of the precursor arrays.
- Controlling VACNT array morphology is key to enhancing CNT fiber performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between VACNT array morphology and CNT fiber mechanical properties.
- To explore the influence of hydrogen and oxygen on VACNT array formation and properties.
- To optimize CNT fiber strength through controlled synthesis.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of VACNT arrays via chemical vapor deposition (CVD).
- Direct spinning of CNT fibers from synthesized arrays.
- Mechanical testing of CNT fibers to determine tensile strength.
- Systematic variation of hydrogen and oxygen concentrations during CVD.
Main Results:
- A direct correlation was found between array alignment and fiber strength: well-aligned arrays produced high-performance fibers.
- Wavy and entangled arrays resulted in significantly weaker CNT fibers.
- Switching from oxygen (150 ppm) to hydrogen (2%) addition during synthesis transformed wavy arrays to well-aligned ones.
- Tensile strength increased by 4.5 times, from 0.29 GPa to 1.3 GPa, by using hydrogen instead of oxygen.
Conclusions:
- Hydrogen and oxygen are critical in controlling VACNT array morphology and subsequent CNT fiber spinnability and strength.
- Optimized synthesis conditions, particularly hydrogen addition, can dramatically enhance the mechanical performance of CNT fibers.
- Understanding growth and failure mechanisms provides pathways for designing superior CNT-based materials.
