An Introduction To Engineering Materials : Synthesis, Properties, And Application Of Carbon

Nanotubes

Created By

Muhammad Joshua YB

1406563866

Muhammad Al-Wafiy

1406563582

Department Of Metallurgy And Materials Engineering

Faculty Of Engineering

Universitas Indonesia

Introduction To Carbon Nanotubes

Since the discovery of C60 (Buckminsterfullerene) research about carbon

nanomaterials was intensively increased in the last decade. Carbon nanotubes it self was first

discovered by Sumio Ijima in 1991 during his investigation of fullerene formation from

atomized carbon dissociated from heated graphite in an arc-discharge process [1]. After Ijima

discovery , many researcher try to developing carbon nanotubes and mass production for

carbon nanotubes until now. Carbon nanotubes is arranged by carbon atoms that can be

extracted from hydrocarbon or graphite for synthesising carbon nanotubes. Because based

from carbon, carbon nanotubes can be synthesized at low temperature (500oC-700oC) [2]. But

not like usual carbon based materials, carbon nanotubes has great physical strength and

electrical properties. Carbon nanotubes are both strong and stiff , and calculations show they

are between 30 and 100 times stronger than steel[1]. Because of this desirable properties ,

carbon nanotubes has great potential for enhancing technology in many applications.

Structure And Physical Properties Of Carbon Nanotubes

There is two types of carbon nanotubes, single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT’s)

and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT’s). SWCNT’s structurally is a rolled up sheet

of graphene or graphite with several micrometers long (some has reach milimeters) and has

about 1 nm in diameter. The carbon atoms arranged in hexagonal and pentagonal patterns.

While MWCNT’s is a multiple rolled up sheets of graphene that has various diameters and

form concentrically.

Figure 1.1 shows of single-walled carbon nanotubes structure.

Source : www.rsc.org

Figure 1.2 shows an illustration of multi-walled carbon nanotubes structure.

Source : www.research.che.tamu.edu

Mechanical Properties

The carbon bond in carbon nanotubes gives rise to the extreme interest in carbon

nanotubes mechanical properties. The carbon bond make them stiffer and stronger then any

substance. Recent simulations and experiments show that invidual SWNT’s can be bend but

not break to large transverse deformations. Simulations and experiments also show the full

recovery of a straight perfect tube once the force is removed. Young’s modulus of an

individual MWNT was measured as 1.0 to 1.8 TPa

tungsten that has young’s modulus 0,107 TPa and 0,407 TPa.

SWNT bundles may be stiffer in bending but stiffer ma

due to “pullout” of individual tubes[3].

Graphic 1.1 Strength vs. Strain of single

Source: Adapted from www.interchopen.com

Thermal Properties

All carbon based materials thermal conductivity is dominated by atomic vibrations or

phonons. Thermal conductivity test on individual tubes are still extremely difficult so the

experiments have been limited to MWNT. For bulk MWNT foils, thermal conductivit

only 20 W/mK, suggesting that thermally opaque junctions between tubes severely limit the

large-scale diffusion of phonons [3]. These properties make both SWNT and MWNT

materials are being actively studied for thermal management applications, either a

individual MWNT was measured as 1.0 to 1.8 TPa[3]. That’s bigger than titanium and

tungsten that has young’s modulus 0,107 TPa and 0,407 TPa. Multiwall nanotubes and

SWNT bundles may be stiffer in bending but stiffer materials should be weaker in tension

ual tubes[3].

Graphic 1.1 Strength vs. Strain of single-walled carbon nanotubes

Adapted from www.interchopen.com

All carbon based materials thermal conductivity is dominated by atomic vibrations or

phonons. Thermal conductivity test on individual tubes are still extremely difficult so the

experiments have been limited to MWNT. For bulk MWNT foils, thermal conductivit

only 20 W/mK, suggesting that thermally opaque junctions between tubes severely limit the

scale diffusion of phonons [3]. These properties make both SWNT and MWNT

materials are being actively studied for thermal management applications, either a

. That’s bigger than titanium and

Multiwall nanotubes and

terials should be weaker in tension

All carbon based materials thermal conductivity is dominated by atomic vibrations or

phonons. Thermal conductivity test on individual tubes are still extremely difficult so the

experiments have been limited to MWNT. For bulk MWNT foils, thermal conductivity is

only 20 W/mK, suggesting that thermally opaque junctions between tubes severely limit the

scale diffusion of phonons [3]. These properties make both SWNT and MWNT

materials are being actively studied for thermal management applications, either as “heat

pipes” or as alternatives to metallic or alumina particle addition to low thermal resistance

adhesives.

Graphic 1.3 Shows thermal conductivity vs temperature of carbon nanotubes.

Source : Adapted from www.what-when-how.com

Electronic Properties

The nanotube materials electrical properties have evolved considerably. Carbon

nanotubes has a great electrical conductivity because of it’s “ballistic effect”. The tube shape

make the ballistic effect on nanotubes, its conduct and transport any electrons inside the tubes

so its also will be depends on the lenght of nanotubes. Some experiments show that

nanotubes electrical conductivity is better than copper. And carbon nanotubes is may have a

superconducting properties.

Figure 1.3 An illustration of electrons transport inside carbon nanotubes.

Source : www.yfzhang.sjtu.edu.cn

Synthesis Of Carbon Nanotubes

There is several methods to synthesize carbon nanotubes, there are chemical vapour

deposition, spray pyrolisis, and by using hyperaccumulator. Chemical vapour deposition is

the most popular method in synthesize carbon nanotubes recently, but it takes a high

temperature (above 550oC) to boil the hydrocarbon and build the nanotubes on the substrate.

Spray pyrolisis is same with chemical vapour deposition but the different is the catalyst is not

in solid fase but also dissolved with hydrocarbon solution. There is an interesting method in

synthesis carbon nanotubes, hyperaccumulator is some plants that absorb metal ion and make

it non-conductive (because the solution doesn’t has any active ion) and can form as a catalyst

in an aquous solution. This method can synthesize nanotubes with lower temperature than

Chemical Vapour Deposition or Spray Pyrolisis (just about 500oC). One of the

hyperaccumulator plant is Brassica Juncea. Because it’s more interesting, we will discuss

how to produce carbon nanotubes with this method further more.

Figure 1.4 Nanotubes structure produces with metal catalyst (a) tip

growth model.

Source : Adapted from Mukul, Kumar, “Chemical Vapor deposition of Carbon Nanotubes :

Review on Growth Mechanism and Mass Production”.(American Scientific Publishers :

2010), fig 2.

Synthesis Of Carbon Nanotubes Using Hyperaccumulator Plants

Juncea)

There is a recent experiments in synthesize

as hyperaccumulator plants and this explanation is based on that

hyperaccumulator plants can absorb metal ion and reduce the ion

convert the plants into an aquous solution

shoots with mixed it with ethanol solution at 70

were filtrated 3 times to get the residues and filtrates. We need to adjust the pH level to 11

with Sodium hydroxide solution and then extracted 3 times again with petroleum ether in a

Figure 1.4 Nanotubes structure produces with metal catalyst (a) tip-growth model (b) base

Adapted from Mukul, Kumar, “Chemical Vapor deposition of Carbon Nanotubes :

Review on Growth Mechanism and Mass Production”.(American Scientific Publishers :

Synthesis Of Carbon Nanotubes Using Hyperaccumulator Plants

recent experiments in synthesize carbon nanotubes using

and this explanation is based on that experiments

hyperaccumulator plants can absorb metal ion and reduce the ion in the solution , so we must

convert the plants into an aquous solution. We can get the essence from

shoots with mixed it with ethanol solution at 70oC for 120 minutes[4]. Then the mixtures

were filtrated 3 times to get the residues and filtrates. We need to adjust the pH level to 11

with Sodium hydroxide solution and then extracted 3 times again with petroleum ether in a

growth model (b) base-

Adapted from Mukul, Kumar, “Chemical Vapor deposition of Carbon Nanotubes :

Review on Growth Mechanism and Mass Production”.(American Scientific Publishers :

Synthesis Of Carbon Nanotubes Using Hyperaccumulator Plants (Brassica

carbon nanotubes using Brassica Juncea

experiments. As we known

in the solution , so we must

We can get the essence from Brassica Juncea

C for 120 minutes[4]. Then the mixtures

were filtrated 3 times to get the residues and filtrates. We need to adjust the pH level to 11

with Sodium hydroxide solution and then extracted 3 times again with petroleum ether in a

separatory funnel. Then we add

product was C32H30ON4H2(CO

crumbled then dried in an oven at 105

HNO3 at 85oC for 360 minutes [4]. Then we react metal nitrate (in this case Zn(NO

collected black residues (C32H

80 minutes[4]. The residues from the reaction then collected and rapidly heated to about

400oC for about 5 minutes then cooled to room temperature, the heat treatment must repeated

at least about 20 times [4]. The carbon will react with the metal in the solution and form a

nanotube structure. Then we can collect the carbon nanotube from the solution wit

the solution.

separatory funnel. Then we add Hydrochloric acid to adjust pH level into 3 and the reaction

(CO2H)2 [4]. After that, the collected residues were dried and

crumbled then dried in an oven at 105oC for 72 hour and shaken (300 rpm) in 250 mL of

nutes [4]. Then we react metal nitrate (in this case Zn(NO

H30ON4H2(CO2H)2) to form C32H30ON4Zn(CO

80 minutes[4]. The residues from the reaction then collected and rapidly heated to about

about 5 minutes then cooled to room temperature, the heat treatment must repeated

at least about 20 times [4]. The carbon will react with the metal in the solution and form a

Then we can collect the carbon nanotube from the solution wit

Hydrochloric acid to adjust pH level into 3 and the reaction

]. After that, the collected residues were dried and

C for 72 hour and shaken (300 rpm) in 250 mL of

nutes [4]. Then we react metal nitrate (in this case Zn(NO3) with the

Zn(CO2H)2 at 60oC for

80 minutes[4]. The residues from the reaction then collected and rapidly heated to about

about 5 minutes then cooled to room temperature, the heat treatment must repeated

at least about 20 times [4]. The carbon will react with the metal in the solution and form a

Then we can collect the carbon nanotube from the solution with drying

Figure 1.5 The result from carbon nanotubes synthesize (a) high-resolution transmission

electron microscopy image (b) Selected area diffraction pattern of carbon nanotubes (c)

Raman spectrum of carbon nanotubes.

Source : Adapted from Xing, Yuan, “ Carbon nanotubes and Cu-Zn nanoparticles synthesis

using hyperaccumulator plants”.(Environ Chem Lett : 2012), fig 2.

Application Of Carbon Nanotubes

We have known several properties of carbon nanotubes , its thermal properties ,

mechanical properties, and its electrical properties. From those properties we can determine

the applications of carbon nanotubes. And we will discuss one potential applications of

carbon nanotubes that being develop recently.

Carbon Nanotubes Field Effect Inventers

We know that carbon nanotubes is have a great potential on being a semiconductor or

a superconductor. Some of carbon nanotubes applications is an integrated circuit (inventers).

With its better semiconducting properties carbon nanotubes can replace quartz crystal that

usually been used for an IC (Integrated Circuit). Integrated circuit from carbon nanotubes can

be make (better with) chemical vapour deposition method on a flat substrate[6]. Because

carbon nanotubes that produce with chemical vapour deposition on a flat substrate will have a

similar vertical position. With a vertical position tubes, electrons can be conducted better.

Previous researches have proven are ideal for high performance electronic devices. This

carbon nanotubes inventers will be appear for commercial use in the future.

Figure 1.6 Carbon nanotubes in vertical position for integrated circuit based on carbon

nanotubes.

Source : www.inhabitat.com

Conclusions And Future Directions

There is still many more potentials of carbon nanotubes applications for advancing

our technology. It’s strong tensile strenght has made several countries try to develop it for

kevlar and some bulletproof vehicle for advancing their military technology. Mass production

attempts for carbon nanotubes is successfully done by R.E Smalley method. This material

will be a very popular material in the future. We must harness and develop this potentials in

our own country. This is our chance to advance our nation, either in field of technology,

military , even prosperity for our people. We have many source of carbon for precursor to

mass produce carbon nanotubes. We have a frequently sunlight to absorb with carbon nano

tubes. And we have many more potentials to take a lead in carbon nanotubes technology.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

[1] Kumar, S.S.R. Shalla., 2006. Nanomaterials: Toxicity, Health, And Environmental Issues.

John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

[2] Hornyak, Gabor., 2008. Introduction To Nanoscience.CRC Press, Taylor and Francis

Group, inc.

[3] Gogotsi, Yury., 2006. Carbon Nanomaterials. CRC Press, Taylor and Francis Group, inc.

[4] Yuan, Xing., 2011. “Carbon nanotubes and Cu-Zn nanoparticles synthesis using

hyperaccumulator plants”. School of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Northeast Normal

University, Changchun, Tiongkok.

[5] Liu, Xiaolei., 2006. “Synthesis, Devices And Applications Of Carbon Nanotubes”.

Dissertation to Faculty Of Graduate Scool, University Of Southern California.