• Carbon letters
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.117-124
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• 2014

Conductive polymer composites (CPCs) consist of a polymeric matrix and a conductive filler, for example, carbon black, carbon fibers, graphite or carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The critical amount of the electrically conductive filler necessary to build up a continuous conductive network, and accordingly, to make the material conductive; is referred to as the percolation threshold. From technical and economical viewpoints, it is desirable to decrease the conductive-filler percolation-threshold as much as possible. In this study, we investigated the effect of polymer/conductive-filler interactions, as well as the processing and morphological development of low-percolation-threshold (${\Phi}c$) conductive-polymer composites. The aim of the study was to produce conductive composites containing less multi-walled CNTs (MWCNTs) than required for pure polypropylene (PP) through two approaches: one using various mixing methods and the other using immiscible polymer blends. Variants of the conductive PP composite filled with MWCNT was prepared by dry mixing, melt mixing, mechanofusion, and compression molding. The percolation threshold (${\Phi}c$) of the MWCNT-PP composites was most successfully lowered using the mechanofusion process than with any other mixing method (2-5 wt%). The mechanofusion process was found to enhance formation of a percolation network structure, and to ensure a more uniform state of dispersion in the CPCs. The immiscible-polymer blends were prepared by melt mixing (internal mixer) poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF, PP/PVDF, volume ratio 1:1) filled with MWCNT.

• Carbon letters
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.195-199
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• 2008

A nanocomposite consisting of $Fe_3O_4$ and MWCNT was produced via sol-gel technique using $FeCl_3$ along with MWCNT by calcination at $300^{\circ}C$. The degradation effect of rhodamine B dye has been investigated under UV illumination in a darkroom. The degradation reaction was studied by monitoring the discoloration of dye as a function of irradiation time using UV-visible spectrophotometeric technique. The $Fe_3O_4$-MWCNT samples have continuous degradation ability under the UV illumination with the first order kinetics and the dye removal was better than in the pristine $Fe_3O_4$. The resultant composite catalyst was found to be efficient for the photo-Fenton reaction of the dye.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.315-320
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• 2013

In this paper, the properties of strain sensors made of spin-capable multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were characterized and their sensing mechanisms analyzed. The key contribution of this paper is a new fabrication technique that introduces a simpler transfer method compared to spin-coating or dispersion CNT. Resistance of the MWCNT sheet strain sensor increased linearly with higher strain. To investigate the effect of CNT concentration on sensitivity, two strain sensors with different layer numbers of MWCNT sheets (one and three layers) were fabricated. According to the results, the sensor with a three-layer sheet showed higher sensitivity than that with one layer. In addition, experiments were conducted to examine the effects of environmental factors, temperature, and gas on sensor sensitivity. An increase in temperature resulted in a reduction in sensor sensitivity. It was also observed that ambient gas influenced the properties of the MWCNT sheet due to charge transfer. Experimental results showed that there was a linear change in resistance in response to strain, and the resistance of the sensor fully recovered to its unstressed state and exhibited stable electromechanical properties.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.31-37
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• 2023

Owing to the rapid climate change, a high-performance energy storage system (ESS) for efficient energy consumption has been receiving considerable attention. ESS, such as capacitors, usually has issues with the ion diffusion of electrode materials, resulting in a decrease in their capacitance. Notably, appropriate pore diameter and large specific surface area (SSA) may result in an effective ion diffusion. Therefore, graphene and multi-walled carbon nanotube (graphene@MWCNT) hybrid nanomaterials, with covalent bonds between the graphene and MWCNT, were prepared via an edge-chemistry reaction. The properties of these materials, such as high porosity, large SSA, and high electroconductivity, make them suitable to be used as electrode materials for capacitors. The optimal ratio of graphene to MWCNT can affect the electrochemical performance of the electrode material based on its physical and electrochemical properties. The supercapacitor using optimal graphene-based hybrid electrode material exhibited highest specific capacitance value as 158 F/g and excellent cycle stability.

• Composites Research
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.7-12
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• 2010

In order to increase the electrical conductivity and the mechanical properties of carbon fabric composites, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and carbon nanofibers (CNFs) were deposited on carbon fabrics by anodic and cathodic electrophoretic deposition (EPD) processes. In the cathodic EPD, carbon nano-particles and nano-sized Cu particles were simultaneously deposited on the carbon fabric, which gave a synergetic effect on the enhancement of properties as well as the degree of deposition. The hybridization of carbon nano-particles and micron-sized carbon fiber significantly improved the through-the-thickness electrical conductivity. In addition, both MWCNTs and CNFs were deposited onto the carbon fabric for multi-scale hybrid composites. Multi-scale deposition improved the through-the-thickness electrical conductivity, compared to the deposition of either MWCNTs or CNFs.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.220-226
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• 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.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.234-241
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• 2009

In this study, CNT/$TiO_2$ composites derived from various titanium alkoxides and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were synthesized and characterized. Surface areas and pore volumes of the CNT/$TiO_2$ samples showed catastrophic decrease due to deposition of titanium compounds. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results indicated that the MWCNTs were homogenously decorated and well-dispersed onto/into the composites without apparent agglomeration of $TiO_2$ particles. In the X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, peaks of anatase and rutile phase were observed. The energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) spectra revealed the presence of major elements such as C and O with strong Ti peaks. According to the photocatalytic results, MB removal by a treatment with CNT/$TiO_2$ composites seems to have an excellent removal effect as order of CTIP, CTNB and CTPP composites due to a photolysis of the supported $TiO_2$, the radical reaction and the adsorptivity and absorptivity of the MWCNTs.

• Carbon letters
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.311-315
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• 2010

In this work, the effect of glycidyl methacrylate grafted multi-walled carbon nanotubes (GMA-MWCNTs) on the viscoelastic behaviors of polypropylene (PP) based nanocomposites was studied. The GMA-MWCNTs/PP was prepared using a bravender at $200^{\circ}C$ by melt mixing as a function of GMA-MWCNT content. The viscoelastic behaviors of GMA-MWCNTs/PP nanocomposites were measured by a rheometer. It was found that the GMA-MWCNTs were homogeneously dispersed in the PP matrix. The GMA-MWCNTs/PP nanocomposites showed higher storage modulus, loss modulus, and shear viscosity compared to pure PP nanocomposites and the maximum value was shown at 2.0 wt% GMA-MWCNTs loading. These results were probably attributed to the strong interfacial interaction between the GMA-MWCNT and the PP matrix.

• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.137-144
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• 2012

Chemical functionalization of carbon nanomaterials (CNMs) is generally carried out for increasing interfacial adhesion between filler and polymer matrix for CNM-polymer nanocomposites. The chemically functionalized CNTs can produce strong interfacial bonds with many polymers, allowing CNT based nanocomposites to possess high mechanical and functional properties. Hence, increased surface adhesion can be measured indirectly by observing increased mechanical properties. However, there is a more direct way to observe interfacial bonds between polymer and CNM by measuring piezoresistivity behavior so that we can imagine the behavior of CNM particles in polymer matrix under deflection. Fuctionalization of MWCNT and rGO was carried out by oxidization reaction of MWCNT and rGO with $H_2SO_4/HNO_3$ solution. Electrical resistivities of MWCNT-PMMA and rGO-PMMA composites were decreased after functionalization because of the destructive fuctionalization process. Meanwhile, piezoresistivities of functionalized CNM-PMMA composites showed more sensitive behavior under the same deflection as compared to pristine CNM-PMMA composites. Therefore, mobility of CNM in polymer matrix was found to be improved with chemical functionalization.

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