Preparation and characterisation of carbon nanotube films and composites
Citation:
Fiona M. Blighe, 'Preparation and characterisation of carbon nanotube films and composites', [thesis], Trinity College (Dublin, Ireland). School of Physics, 2008, pp 139Download Item:
Abstract:
A simple method of carbon nanotube (NT) composite preparation has been
demonstrated that produces wide ranging and extremely high carbon nanotube mass
fraction, mf, composites with minimal reagregation of the nanotubes (up to 81 wt% NTs).
High mass fraction polystyrene-nanotube composite films were fabricated using this
method from very low concentration dispersions of N-MethyI-2-pyrrolidone by vacuum
filtration. These films displayed conductivities between 100S/m and 10 4S/m with densities
in the region of 400kg/m3. Taking into account their porous nature, the conductivity, δ , was
plotted as a function of the true nanotube volume fraction, p. The conductivity scaled
according to a percolation scaling law: δ ∝ pt right up to the nanotube only sample. This
unexpected result shows that, in these systems at least, percolation scaling persists even at
very high volume fractions. This indicates that the conductivity is limited only by the
properties of the nanotube junctions of which the network is comprised, not by polymer
tunnelling barriers. Mechanical analyses were also preformed on these films and prompted
investigation into the factors that control the mechanical properties of nanotube films.
Author: Blighe, Fiona M.
Advisor:
Blau, WernerPublisher:
Trinity College (Dublin, Ireland). School of PhysicsNote:
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Full text availableKeywords:
Physics, Ph.D., Ph.D. Trinity College DublinMetadata
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