Dispersion of boron nitride nanotubes in aqueous solution by simple aromatic molecules.

We report that the simple aromatic molecules successfully disentangle and disperse multi-walled boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) in aqueous solutions through pi-pi stacking interactions. Aromatic molecules such as derivatives of naphthalene, anthracene, and pyrene were used as dispersants and components for construction of nanohybrids. Spectroscopic analyses of water-dispersed BNNTs revealed that not only numbers of aromatic rings but also substituted functional groups were essential for dispersion capabilities. It was suggested that greater numbers of aromatic rings and a carboxylic acid as the substituted group showed higher dispersion capabilities among the molecules used in this study. Detailed microscopic analyses using atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy showed certain isolation capabilities of the aromatic molecules for BNNTs in aqueous solution. Moreover, fluorescence spectra indicated that BNNTs and the aromatic molecules have different electronic states after hybrid formation. Our results using the simple aromatic molecules will be utilized as a basic data for dispersion of BNNTs and construction of disentangled BNNT nanohybrids effectively.

Membrane growth of nanoporous silicates via the self-assembly monolayer.

The self-assembly monolayer (SAM) method was used for membrane fabrication, in which Si wafers were treated separately with N-trimethoxysilylpropyl-n,n,n-tri-n-butylammonium bromide (TMSP-TBA) and N-trimethoxysilylpropyl-n,n,n-trimethylammonium chloride (TMSP-TMA) to form monolayers on the Si surfaces. To grow silicate membranes on the organosilyl-treated Si wafers, a series of silicate sols were prepared with composites of tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) and methyltriethoxysilane (MTES) as silicate sources, and tetrapropylammonium bromide (TPABr) was used as an organic template. Their microstructures were investigated in detail by comparing them using SEM and XRD. The use of MTES hindered the formation of microporous channels in the calcined silicate samples. The calcined silicate samples became totally amorphous over 20% loading of MTES. In addition, their structural information was supported by spectroscopic (FT-IR and solid-state 29Si NMR) analyses.

Characterization of attractive interaction-driven carbon nanotube composites with Cd-based nanoparticles.

Multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT) composites with cadmium telluride (CdTe) or cadmium selenide (CdSe) nanoparticles were prepared via electrostatic interaction. The MWNTs were modified with carboxylic acid groups. Both the CdTe and CdSe nanoparticles were stabilized with 2-(dimethylamino) ethanethiol hydrochloride to develop positive charges on their surfaces in water. They were characterized in detail via UV-visible spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The energy state of the MWNTs was significantly modified by the electrostatic binding between the nanoparticles and carboxylated MWNTs, resulting in absorption at approximately 250 nm. XPS analysis also proved the electronic redistribution of the nanoparticles and the MWNTs. The binding energies of the elements Cd, Se, and Te were definitely changed by the attractive interaction between the nanoparticles and the MWNTs. The distribution of the CdTe or CdSe nanoparticles and the morphologies of the MWNT composites were deliberately investigated from TEM images and XRD.

Polymer wrapping-induced dispersion of single walled carbon nanotubes in ethylene glycol under mild sonication.

SWCNTs were individually dispersed in ethylne glycol (EG) via mild bath-type sonication using quaternized poly(furfuryl methacrylate)-co-(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) p(FMA-co-QDMAEMA) as a dispersing agent. QDMAEMA, which has alkyl groups, was more favorable to the dispersion ability of single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). The dispersion mechanism of SWCNTs in EG via helical wrapping of polymer chains along their sidewalls was suggested based on transmission electron microscopic observation.

Thermal conductivity enhancement in electrospun poly(vinyl alcohol) and poly(vinyl alcohol)/cellulose nanocrystal composite nanofibers.

The thermal conductivity enhancement of neat poly(vinyl alcohol) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) composite was attempted via electrospinning. The suspended microdevice technique was applied to measure the thermal conductivity of electrospun nanofibers (NFs). Neat PVA NFs and PVA/CNC NFs with a diameter of approximately 200 nm showed thermal conductivities of 1.23 and 0.74 W/m-K, respectively, at room temperature, which are higher than that of bulk PVA by factors of 6 and 3.5, respectively. Material characterization by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis confirmed that the thermal conductivity of the PVA/CNC NFs was enhanced by the reinforcement of their backbone rigidity, while that of the neat PVA NFs was attributed to the increase in their crystallinity that occurred during the electrospinning.

Hydrolytic Unzipping of Boron Nitride Nanotubes in Nitric Acid.

Boron nitride nanoribbons (BNNRs) have very attractive electrical and optical properties due to their unique edge states and width-related properties. Herein, for the first time, BNNRs were produced by a simple reflux of boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) in nitric acid containing water, which had led to unzipped sidewalls through hydrolysis. Their high reactivity that originated from edges was verified via a strong interaction with methylene blue.

Sonication-assisted alcoholysis of boron nitride nanotubes for their sidewalls chemical peeling.

Boron nitride (BN)-based nanomaterials attract considerable attention due to their unique properties. In this study, we found that sonication treatment of multiwalled boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) in primary alcohols had led to chemical peeling of their sidewalls through alcoholysis, thereby producing boron nitride nanoribbons (BNNRs).