• Journal of Powder Materials
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.326-335
• /
• 2010

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 $5\;{\mu}g/ml$, and a droplet of $1.0{\sim}1.5\;{\mu}l$ 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 $0.3{\sim}1.3\;V_{rms}/{\mu}m$. 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.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.19 no.12
• /
• pp.667-673
• /
• 2009

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 $Pt_xM_{(1-x)}$/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 $Pt_xM_{(1-x)}$ 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 $Pt_xM_{(1-x)}$/MWNTs catalysts are seen as FCC, and synthesized $Pt_xM_{(1-x)}$ crystals have lattice parameters smaller than the pure Pt crystal. According to the electrochemical surface area (ESA) calculated with cyclic voltammetry analysis, $Pt_{0.77}Co_{0.23}$/MWNTs catalyst has higher ESA than the other catalysts. The evaluation of a unit cell test using Pt/MWNTs or $Pt_xM_{(1-x)}$/MWNTs as the cathode catalysts demonstrated higher cell performance than did a commercial Pt/C catalyst. Among the MWNTs-supported Pt and $Pt_xM_{(1-x)}$ (M = Co, Cu, Ni) catalysts, the $Pt_{0.77}Co_{0.23}$/MWNTs shows the highest performance with the cathode catalyst of PEMFC because they had the largest ESA.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.50-53
• /
• 2009

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were synthesized on different substrates (bare Si and $SiO_2$/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 $900^{\circ}C$. It was found that the diameter of the MWNTs on the Si substrate sample is approximately $5{\sim}10nm$ larger than that of a $SiO_2$/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 %.

• Elastomers and Composites
• /
• v.42 no.3
• /
• pp.151-158
• /
• 2007

MWNTs have been widely investigated due to unique properties of such as good electrical conductivity and thermal stability in polymer composites industries. This paper established the procedure to fabricate PMMA/MWNT composites by a modular intermeshing co-rotating twin screw extruder with L/D ratio of 42. The electrical properties of PMMA/MWNT composites with different content of MWNT have been investigated. A sheet resistance percolation was observed at 4 wt% of MWNT for the melt processed composites. Sheet resistance of PMMA/MWNT composite film containing 4 wt% of MWNT was nearby $10^4{\Omega}/sq$ and this shows the possibility of potential application to EMI (Electronic Magnetic Interference) shielding materials. The characteristics of composites were analyzed by TGA, DSC, and SEM. In addition, MFI (Melt Flow Index) has been measured to analyze the rheological property.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.220-226
• /
• 2019

Magnesium hydride has a high hydrogen storage capacity (7.6 wt.%), and is cheap and lightweight, thus advantageous as a hydrogen storage alloy. However, Mg-based hydrides undergo hydrogenation/dehydrogenation at high temperature and pressure due to their thermodynamic stability and high oxidation reactivity. MWCNTs exhibit prominent catalytic effect on the hydrogen storage properties of $MgH_2$, weakening the interaction between Mg and H atoms and reducing the activation energy for nucleation of the metal phase by co-milling Mg with carbon nanotubes. Therefore, it is suggested that combining transition metals with carbon nanotubes as mixed dopants has a significant catalytic effect on the hydrogen storage properties of $MgH_2$. In this study, Material life cycle evaluation was performed to analyze the environmental impact characteristics of Mg-CaO-10 wt.% MWCNTs composites manufacturing process. The software of material life cycle assessment (MLCA) was Gabi 6. Through this, environmental impact assessment was performed for each process.

• The Journal of Korea Institute of Information, Electronics, and Communication Technology
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.37-44
• /
• 2015

In this paper, we have investigated a selective assembly method of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) on a silicon substrate using only photolithographic process and then proposed a fabrication method of field effect transistors (FETs) using SWCNT-based patterns. The aminopropylethoxysilane (APTES) patterns, which are formed for positively charged surface molecular patterns, are utilized to assemble and align millions of SWCNTs and we can more effectively assemble on a silicon (Si) surface using this method than assembly processes using only the 1-octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS). We investigated a selective assembly method of SWCNTs on a Si surface using surface-programmed APTES and OTS patterns and then a fabrication method of FETs. photoresist(PR) patterns were made using photolithographic process on the silicon dioxide (SiO2) grown Si substrate and the substrate was placed in the OTS solution (1:500 v/v in anhydrous hexane) to cover the bare SiO2 regions. After removing the PR, the substrate was placed in APTES solution to backfill the remaining SiO2 area. This surface-programmed substrate was placed into a SWCNT solution dispersed in dichlorobenzene. SWCNTs were attracted toward the positively charged molecular regions, and aligned along the APTES patterns. On the contrary, SWCNT were not assembled on the OTS patterns. In this process, positively charged surface molecular patterns are utilized to direct the assembly of negatively charged SWCNT on SiO2. As a result, the selectively assembled SWCNT channels can be obtained between two electrodes(source and drain electrodes). Finally, we can successfully fabricate SWCNT-based multi-channel FETs by using our self-assembled monolayer method.

• Composites Research
• /
• v.27 no.5
• /
• pp.190-195
• /
• 2014

This paper predicts the complex permittivity of MWNT added epoxy depending on agglomeration by numerical analysis. 1wt% MWNT added epoxy specimen is prepared using 3-roll-mill method and its complex permittivity is measured in X-band (8.2~12.4 GHz) using freespace measurement system. The analytic model is comprised of cube epoxy and perfect sphere agglomeration. The complex permittivity of the agglomeration model is predicted by complex permittivity mixing rule using the measured complex permittivity of epoxy and 1 wt% MWNT added epoxy. Commercial electromagnetic analysis software, CST, is used to obtain S-parameter of the analytic model and MATLAB code is used to calculate complex permittivity from the S-parameter. It is confirmed that the complex permittivity increases when the agglomeration size decreases.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
• /
• v.54 no.3
• /
• pp.410-418
• /
• 2016

In this study, we prepared electrically conducting composites using epoxy resin of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) as a matrix, triethylenetetramine (TETA) as a hardener and nickel powder or multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) grafted with $-NH_2$ groups (MWCNT-$NH_2$) as electrically conducting fillers. Electrical conductivity of composite films were measured by coating on the slide glass with a doctor blade. We measured modification reactions of MWCNT and reaction of MWCNT-$NH_2$ with DGEBA epoxy resin by fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) and elemental analyzer (EA). Morphology of composites was investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and sheet resistances of composites were measured by 4-point probe. We found $(9.87{\pm}1.09){\times}10^4{\Omega}/sq$ of sheet resistance for epoxy composite containing both 40 wt% nickel powder and 0.5 wt% of MWCNT-$NH_2$ as fillers, equivalent to epoxy composite containing 53.3 wt% nickel powder only as a filler.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.2945-2950
• /
• 2015

While perfluoroalkane (PFA), a liquid state nucleating agent for a rigid polyurethane foam (RPUF) to enhance the thermal insulation property, has the excellent nucleating characteristics, it is very expensive as well as environmentally harmful due to the fluoride compound. Many researches, therefore, have been performed to develop the alternative nucleating agents to replace PFA. In the present work, a multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) was used as a sloid state nucleating agent, and thereby the effects on the property changes of the RPUF were carried out. Average cell size decreased from 165.6 for base RPUF to $162.9{\mu}m$ and cell uniformity was also enhanced, showing the standard cell-size deviation of 45.6 and 35.2, respectively. While k-factor of base PUF was $0.01763kcal/m.hr.^{\circ}C$, that of the sample with 0.01 phr MWCNT showed 1.02% reduced value of $0.01745kcal/m.hr.^{\circ}C$. Though the compressive yield stress is nearly the same as $0.030{\times}105Pa$ for the both samples, initial modulus of the sample with 0.01 phr MWCNT was higher than that of base sample. it was considered as the results that small amount of MWCNT could play a sufficient role as the effective nucleating agent for RPUF, showing that an echo-friendly RPUF with reduced-cost could be fabricated, which has an enhanced thermal and mechanical properties.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.505-516
• /
• 2016

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 $0.98mg/m^3$ was derived. Using the simple equation for estimation of OEL suggested by NEDO, the OEL of $142{\mu}g/m^3$ 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 ($2-80{\mu}g/m^3$) 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.