Purification, Length Characterization and Quality Assessment of Carbon Nanotubes: A Roadmap to Spinning Fibers with Superior Electrical Conductivity and Strength

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorPasquali, Matteoen_US
dc.contributor.committeeMemberAjayan, Pulickel Men_US
dc.contributor.committeeMemberVerduzco, Rafaelen_US
dc.creatorTsentalovich, Dmitri Evgenevichen_US
dc.date.accessioned2020-02-05T14:59:55Zen_US
dc.date.available2020-02-05T14:59:55Zen_US
dc.date.created2015-05en_US
dc.date.issued2015-04-24en_US
dc.date.submittedMay 2015en_US
dc.date.updated2020-02-05T14:59:55Zen_US
dc.description.abstractThe performance of carbon nanotube (CNT) fibers has been limited by an inability to accurately measure CNT length and by an inadequate understanding of how CNT fiber properties depend on intrinsic CNT properties. This dissertation describes a new method for evaluating carbon nanotube length distributions, advances in CNT purification, and a comprehensive analysis of how CNT fiber performance is influenced by properties of the starting CNT material. We determine length distributions for CNT samples from a combination of extensional viscosity measurements and isotropic cloud point measurements of semidilute CNT solutions in chlorosulfonic acid. The scaling of isotropic cloud point concentration with average CNT aspect ratio determined from extensional viscosity measurements closely matches theoretical predictions. Unlike length measurement techniques that rely on CNT sonication or functionalization, the extensional viscosity method is the only bulk measurement method that can probe CNT samples with average lengths greater than several microns. We apply this length measurement technique, along with purity measurements via thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and graphitic character measurements by Raman spectroscopy to optimize hydrogen peroxide based purification of CNTs. The optimal purification conditions minimize cutting of CNTs, while maximizing CNT purity, purification yield, and graphitic character. Despite appreciable shortening of CNTs by purification, transparent and conductive thin film properties improve after purification because of improved CNT purity and graphitic character. High CNT purity, excellent graphitic character, as well as high aspect ratio are all critical for producing high-performance, multifunctional CNT fibers by wet spinning from acid solutions. Contrary to extant work, number of CNT walls does not appear to considerably affect fiber properties. High purity levels are primarily important for efficiently mixing and processing CNTs, whereas, graphitic character and high aspect ratio both strongly influence fiber strength and electrical conductivity. Using the highest quality, available CNT material, we spin continuous, high-strength fibers with the highest electrical conductivity reported in the literature. The fiber properties reported here represent significant improvements over past acid-spun and solid-state spun CNT fibers. The advances described in this thesis will improve CNT manufacturers’ ability to assess CNT quality; enabling researchers to continually improve the strength and conductivity of CNT fibers.en_US
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen_US
dc.identifier.citationTsentalovich, Dmitri Evgenevich. "Purification, Length Characterization and Quality Assessment of Carbon Nanotubes: A Roadmap to Spinning Fibers with Superior Electrical Conductivity and Strength." (2015) Diss., Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/107991">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/107991</a>.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1911/107991en_US
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.rightsCopyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.en_US
dc.subjectcarbon nanotube fibersen_US
dc.subjectextensional rheologyen_US
dc.subjectpurificationen_US
dc.titlePurification, Length Characterization and Quality Assessment of Carbon Nanotubes: A Roadmap to Spinning Fibers with Superior Electrical Conductivity and Strengthen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dc.type.materialTexten_US
thesis.degree.departmentChemical and Biomolecular Engineeringen_US
thesis.degree.disciplineEngineeringen_US
thesis.degree.grantorRice Universityen_US
thesis.degree.levelDoctoralen_US
thesis.degree.majorChemical Engineeringen_US
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophyen_US
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
TSENTALOVICH-DOCUMENT-2015.pdf
Size:
5.35 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
PROQUEST_LICENSE.txt
Size:
5.85 KB
Format:
Plain Text
Description:
Download
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
LICENSE.txt
Size:
2.61 KB
Format:
Plain Text
Description:
Download
Collections
Rice University Theses and Dissertations