Effect of CNT Oxidation on the Processing and Properties of Superacid-Spun CNT Fibers.

Spinning fibers from carbon nanotube (CNT)/superacid dispersions has emerged as a promising strategy for industrial-scale production of high-performance CNT fibers (CNTFs). The oxygen content and types of functional groups on CNT surfaces significantly influence dispersion, assembly processes, and fiber properties. In this study, Tuball-SWCNTs were purified and oxidized at varying levels.

Enhancing the Interfacial Shear Strength and Tensile Strength of Carbon Fibers through Chemical Grafting of Chitosan and Carbon Nanotubes.

Multi-scale "rigid-soft" material coating has been an effective strategy for enhancing the interfacial shear strength (IFSS) of carbon fibers (CFs), which is one of the key themes in composite research. In this study, a soft material, chitosan (CS), and a rigid material, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), were sequentially grafted onto the CFs surface by a two-step amination reaction. The construction of the "rigid-soft" structure significantly increased the roughness and activity of the CFs surface, which improved the mechanical interlocking and chemical bonding between the CFs and resin.

Noncovalent functionalization of graphene attaching [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) and application as electron extraction layer of polymer solar cells.

A new graphene-fullerene composite (rGO-pyrene-PCBM), in which [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) was attached onto reduced graphene oxide (rGO) via the noncovalent functionalization approach, was reported. The pyrene-PCBM moiety was synthesized via a facile esterification reaction, and pyrene was used as an anchoring bridge to link rGO and PCBM components. FTIR, UV-vis, and XPS spectroscopic characterizations were carried out to confirm the hybrid structure of rGO-pyrene-PCBM, and the composite formation is found to improve greatly the dispersity of rGO in DMF.